Cabot
A boy's name of French origin with 287 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A surname from French.
Cabot is a boy's baby name of French origin, from the surname Cabot — meaning 'small head' or a variant of Capot ('hood'). It is most famously associated with John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto), the Italian explorer who sailed under the English flag in 1497 and was the first European to reach mainland North America since the Vikings.
Cabot is a name of exploratory heritage — the man who showed England the way to North America, whose voyages laid the groundwork for the British presence in the New World. A name of discovery and the open horizon.
EtymologyShow more
Cabot is built from 5 letters and two syllables — a mid-length form that balances memorability with distinctiveness. Within the French naming tradition, this brevity is common among names that have been worn down through centuries of use, shedding syllables along the way.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Cabot creates its characteristic sharp, distinct quality. Two-syllable names are the most common length in American naming, hitting a natural speech rhythm that works across formal and informal contexts.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Cabot was #3292 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #11119, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 13 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 36 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 117 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 5 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 23 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 5 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 77 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 5 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 6 | — |
The Story of Cabot
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2004, Cabot is a name that defines a generation. Boys named Cabot are most likely born between 1994 and 2014.
How rare is Cabot?
Only about 1 in every 600,000 babies born in 2024 was named Cabot — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1944, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 2000s with 117 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Cabot by the numbers
- Would fill 6 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(30 years, 1944–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | #11119 |
| 2021 | 7 | #9880 |
| 2018 | 5 | #12460 |
| 2016 | 7 | #9829 |
| 2015 | 8 | #8868 |
| 2012 | 9 | #8252 |
| 2011 | 7 | #9770 |
| 2009 | 10 | #7765 |
| 2008 | 11 | #7272 |
| 2007 | 10 | #7685 |
| 2006 | 16 | #5341 |
| 2005 | 21 | #4214 |
| 2004 | 29 | #3292 |
| 2002 | 8 | #7743 |
| 2000 | 12 | #5621 |
| 1994 | 5 | #8975 |
| 1989 | 9 | #5217 |
| 1988 | 7 | #5835 |
| 1987 | 7 | #5552 |
| 1979 | 5 | #6176 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cabot a boy's or girl's name?
When was Cabot most popular?
How popular is the name Cabot?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1944–2024