Holding steady.
Popularity of Minor since 1880
Babies named Minor per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Minor's real moment was 1880.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 129 |
| 1890s | 95 |
| 1900s | 79 |
| 1910s | 274 |
| 1920s | 333 |
| 1930s | 206 |
| 1940s | 203 |
| 1950s | 133 |
| 1960s | 87 |
| 1970s | 65 |
| 1980s | 21 |
| 1990s | 28 |
| 2000s | 53 |
| 2010s | 22 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Minor is a rare English name with a peak in the 1880s, first recorded in 1880. It was most popular in that decade, with its usage declining sharply afterward. The name has remained stable in rarity since the early 20th century, with no recorded usage in the top 1000 after the 1880s. The 1-in-N ratio is not available due to its low frequency, but it was given to fewer than 5 babies per year in recent decades. The name is almost exclusively male, with no notable popularity in any U.S. state as a given name. Its meaning as 'junior' or 'lesser' makes it an unusual but historically interesting choice.
Minor derives from the Latin word 'minor', meaning 'less' or 'smaller'. In English, it was historically used as a surname to denote a junior family member, sometimes applied as a given name in the 19th century, particularly in the United States. Its use as a first name peaked in the 1880s and has since become rare.
Sibling names for Minor
Names that share Minor's style, for a brother or sister.
