General
Every General since 1880 — 4,025 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of General
General is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.
Since 1880, 4,025 American babies have been named General. Its peak came in 1918, when 105 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1910s.
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 General stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
General year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — |
| 2024 | 7 | #10,233 |
| 2023 | 11 | #7,433 |
| 2022 | 7 | #10,155 |
| 2021 | 7 | #10,083 |
| 2020 | 13 | #6,411 |
| 2019 | 11 | #7,322 |
| 2018 | 6 | #11,237 |
| 2017 | 11 | #7,254 |
| 2016 | 13 | #6,469 |
| 2015 | 13 | #6,455 |
| 2014 | 10 | #7,746 |
| 2013 | 17 | #5,245 |
| 2012 | 9 | #8,390 |
| 2011 | 15 | #5,761 |
| 2010 | 8 | #9,073 |
| 2009 | 8 | #9,271 |
| 2008 | 10 | #7,881 |
| 2007 | 9 | #8,419 |
| 2006 | 8 | #8,986 |
| 2005 | 8 | #8,544 |
| 2004 | 10 | #7,162 |
| 2003 | — | — |
| 2002 | 7 | #8,762 |
| 2001 | 8 | #7,792 |
| 2000 | 9 | #7,021 |
| 1995 | 8 | #6,595 |
| 1990 | 13 | #4,252 |
| 1985 | 7 | #5,352 |
| 1980 | 8 | #4,650 |
| 1975 | 7 | #4,490 |
| 1970 | 13 | #2,667 |
| 1965 | 16 | #2,020 |
| 1960 | 21 | #1,787 |
| 1955 | 23 | #1,627 |
| 1950 | 42 | #1,092 |
| 1945 | 52 | #866 |
| 1940 | 53 | #864 |
| 1935 | 51 | #887 |
| 1930 | 45 | #1,027 |
| 1925 | 63 | #837 |
| 1920 | 91 | #668 |
| 1915 | 60 | #778 |
| 1910 | 32 | #494 |
| 1905 | 24 | #454 |
| 1900 | 33 | #387 |
| 1895 | 20 | #444 |
| 1890 | 24 | #363 |
| 1885 | 36 | #280 |
| 1880 | 32 | #295 |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name General in 2025?
General did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.
How many people are named General?
4,025 babies have been named General in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name General most popular?
General peaked in 1918, when 105 newborns received the name.
Is General a boy or girl name?
General is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name General rising or falling?
General is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.