Major as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Major

What is the meaning of the name Major ?

The baby name Major is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈmeɪdʒər/ (MAY-jər).

Major is English in Origin.

Major is an English given name taken from the military rank, ultimately from Latin maior “greater,” the comparative of magnus “great,” carried into English via Old French and Anglo-Norman. As a word it denoted seniority, hence the officer above captain and below lieutenant colonel, and by extension “of greater importance.” The meaning for the name is commonly interpreted as greater, superior, or high-ranking.

The name has appeared in the United States since the 19th century, often bestowed to honor a relative’s service or as a commanding, confident choice; it has seen renewed popularity in the 21st century as part of the trend for title names (King, Duke, Royal), now sitting in the US Top 500. Variant spellings are rare but include Majorr and Majer; there are no standard diminutives. Cognate or related surnames from the same Latin root include Mayor, Mayer/Meyer, Maier/Meier, and Mair.