Captain
A boy's name of Latin origin with 448 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
The honorific of a captain, especially a ship's captain or a person with the military rank of captain.
Captain is a boy's baby name of Latin origin, from the Latin caput (head), through Old French capitaine, meaning 'leader' or 'chief.' As a title name, Captain joins Admiral, Major, and Duke in the tradition of using rank names as given names — projecting authority from birth.
Captain is bold, unconventional, and impossible to ignore. For parents who want a name that telegraphs leadership and commands attention without explanation, Captain does exactly that — unambiguously and with flair.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Captain belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their sharp, distinct ending — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. At two syllables, it has a two-beat rhythm that is easy to call across a room and natural in conversation.
Within the Latin naming tradition, names with similar sound structures often share underlying etymological patterns. Exploring Latin names on this site may surface connections that illuminate Captain’s linguistic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Captain has 34+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1883.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 96 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 236 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 35 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 6 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 5 | — |
| 1940s | 5 | — |
| 1930s | 5 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 18 | ▼ |
| 1910s | 24 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 5 | ▼ |
| 1880s | 13 | — |
The Story of Captain
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2018, Captain is a fresh, modern favorite. Boys named Captain are most likely born between 2008 and 2024.
How rare is Captain?
Only about 1 in every 300,000 babies born in 2024 was named Captain — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1883, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2010s with 236 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Captain by the numbers
- Would fill 9 school buses
- Meeting one Captain per day would take 1.2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(34 years, 1883–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12 | #6883 |
| 2023 | 20 | #4905 |
| 2022 | 24 | #4321 |
| 2021 | 19 | #4959 |
| 2020 | 21 | #4561 |
| 2019 | 23 | #4350 |
| 2018 | 33 | #3383 |
| 2017 | 25 | #4125 |
| 2016 | 32 | #3454 |
| 2015 | 25 | #4093 |
| 2014 | 26 | #3917 |
| 2013 | 23 | #4202 |
| 2012 | 17 | #5284 |
| 2011 | 20 | #4679 |
| 2010 | 12 | #6752 |
| 2009 | 6 | #11220 |
| 2008 | 11 | #7279 |
| 2007 | 6 | #11132 |
| 2006 | 5 | #12326 |
| 2005 | 7 | #9269 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Captain a boy's or girl's name?
When was Captain most popular?
How popular is the name Captain?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1883–2024