Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 2018

Captain

Gender Boy Rank 2025 #5,242
Rank 2025
#5,242
among boys · ↑1,665 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
18
named Captain
How common
1 in 94,893
boys born in 2025
Peak year
2018
33 babies
All-time total
466
#8,226 all-time among boys
First recorded
1883
in Social Security records

Captain popularity over time

466 babies have been named Captain since 1883, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.030.050.080.118801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1887Boys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s 13 1 – #695
1890s – – – –
1900s 5 1 – #1,073
1910s 24 2 +380% #1,445
1920s 18 2 -25% #3,541
1930s 5 1 -72% #3,590
1940s 5 1 0% #3,632
1950s 5 1 0% #4,026
1960s – – – –
1970s – – – –
1980s 6 1 – #5,597
1990s – – – –
2000s 35 4 – #7,279
2010s 236 24 +574% #3,383
2020s (to 2025) 114 19 -19% #4,322

The story of Captain

Captain is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #5,242 in 2025 with 18 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1883, 466 American babies have been named Captain. Its peak came in 2018, when 33 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2010s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Captain stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Captain?

The median living Captain is about 9 years old; half are between 5 and 12. An estimated 400 people named Captain are alive in the United States today.

median 9 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Captain year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 18 #5,242
2024 12 #6,907
2023 20 #4,909
2022 24 #4,322
2021 19 #4,960
2020 21 #4,563
2019 23 #4,351
2018 33 #3,383
2017 25 #4,126
2016 32 #3,454
2015 25 #4,093
2014 26 #3,918
2013 23 #4,202
2012 17 #5,285
2011 20 #4,681
2010 12 #6,753
2009 6 #11,220
2008 11 #7,279
2007 6 #11,132
2006 5 #12,328
2005 7 #9,271
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 – –
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 – –
1975 – –
1970 – –
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 5 #4,385
1915 – –
1910 6 #1,445
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Captain

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Captain Beefheart Captain Beefheart American musician (1941–2010) Contemporary
  2. 2 Captain Tom Captain Tom British Army officer and fundraiser (1920–2021) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Captain, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Captain?

The median living Captain is about 9 years old. Half of all living Captains are between 5 and 12 years old.

How many people named Captain are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Captain are alive in the United States, based on 466 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Captain in 2025?

Captain ranked #5,242 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 18 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Captain?

466 babies have been named Captain in the United States since 1883, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Captain most popular?

Captain peaked in 2018, when 33 newborns received the name.

Is Captain a boy or girl name?

Captain is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Captain rising or falling?

Captain is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Captain?

Well-known people named Captain include Captain Beefheart (musician), Captain Tom (military personnel).

Names like Captain

Names that sound and feel close to Captain: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Captain with similar names → More names starting with C →