Montreal

A boy's name of French origin with 1,108 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's name#8099 in 2024Rising fast

Meaning & Origin

A place in Quebec, Canada, at the confluence of the Ottawa and Saint-Lawrence Rivers A river port, the largest city in Quebec, Canada.

Montreal is a boy's baby name of French origin, from the place name Mont Réal, meaning 'Royal Mountain' — named after the hill at the center of the city. Montreal is Canada's cultural capital, a vibrant city known for its French heritage, arts, and food scene.

Montreal is bold and cosmopolitan — a place name for parents who want to honor a beloved city or simply love the regal, French-Canadian sound of a name that carries both majesty and culture.

EtymologyShow more

In the American context, Montreal is a boy's name with several decades of recorded use (1969–2024). Its French roots connect it to a broader naming tradition, but in practice, American usage often reshapes names — adding nicknames, shifting pronunciation, and building new associations that diverge from the original cultural context.

Today, Montreal is an active part of the American naming landscape (ranked #8099), continuing to accumulate its own cultural meaning with each new child who carries it.

At a Glance

1,108

Total births

Since 1969

1990

Peak

50 births

1969

First recorded

56 years of data

Compare Montreal with another name

Popularity Over Time

Montreal was #4718 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #8099, but its charm endures.

First appeared: 1969Peak: 1990 (50 births)Current: #8099

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Montreal
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	40	#8328	▼
2010s	137	#6741	▼
2000s	205	#4441	▼
1990s	335	#2504	▲
1980s	240	#2395	▲
1970s	146	#2977	▲
1960s	5	#4815	—

The Story of Montreal

A Millennial name

Peaking in 1990, Montreal is a Millennial-era classic. Boys named Montreal are most likely born between 1980 and 2000.

How rare is Montreal?

Only about 1 in every 360,000 babies born in 2024 was named Montreal — a truly uncommon choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1969, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1990s with 335 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Montreal by the numbers

Would fill 23 school buses
Meeting one Montreal per day would take 3 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(55 years, 1969–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Montreal
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	10	#8099	0
2023	10	#8066	-3 (-23.1%)
2022	13	#6712	+6 (85.7%)
2021	7	#10434	-2 (-22.2%)
2019	9	#8655	-2 (-18.2%)
2018	11	#7453	-1 (-8.3%)
2017	12	#6973	+5 (71.4%)
2016	7	#10383	-7 (-50.0%)
2015	14	#6199	-7 (-33.3%)
2014	21	#4646	+6 (40.0%)
2013	15	#5830	-3 (-16.7%)
2012	18	#5186	0
2011	18	#5124	+6 (50.0%)
2010	12	#6960	-13 (-52.0%)
2009	25	#4129	+6 (31.6%)
2008	19	#5009	+4 (26.7%)
2007	15	#5828	-6 (-28.6%)
2006	21	#4457	+5 (31.3%)
2005	16	#5197	-2 (-11.1%)
2004	18	#4718	-7 (-28.0%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Montreal a boy's or girl's name?

Montreal is primarily a boy's name.

When was Montreal most popular?

Montreal reached its peak popularity in 1990 with 50 births that year. It is currently ranked #8099 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Montreal?

Montreal is currently ranked #8099 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 1,108 babies since 1969.

Explore More

By Length8-letter names By OriginFrench names By EndingNames in -l TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1969–2024