General: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

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	290	29	–	#280
1890s	278	28	-4%	#309
1900s	229	23	-18%	#387
1910s	575	58	+151%	#494
1920s	698	70	+21%	#668
1930s	505	51	-28%	#790
1940s	473	47	-6%	#861
1950s	289	29	-39%	#1,092
1960s	181	18	-37%	#1,699
1970s	126	13	-30%	#2,393
1980s	72	7	-43%	#3,783
1990s	74	7	+3%	#4,252
2000s	77	8	+4%	#7,021
2010s	113	11	+47%	#5,245
2020s (to 2025)	45	8	-34%	#6,411

Decade

Boys

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

290

–

#280

1890s

278

-4%

#309

1900s

229

-18%

#387

1910s

575

+151%

#494

1920s

698

+21%

#668

1930s

505

-28%

#790

1940s

473

-6%

#861

1950s

289

-39%

#1,092

1960s

181

-37%

#1,699

1970s

126

-30%

#2,393

1980s

-43%

#3,783

1990s

+3%

#4,252

2000s

+4%

#7,021

2010s

113

+47%

#5,245

2020s (to 2025)

-34%

#6,411

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.

How old are people named General?

The median living General is about 62 years old; half are between 35 and 77. An estimated 1,200 people named General are alive in the United States today.

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

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

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

How old is the average General?

The median living General is about 62 years old. Half of all living Generals are between 35 and 77 years old.

How many people named General are alive today?

An estimated 1,200 people named General are alive in the United States, based on 4,025 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

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.

General

General popularity over time

The story of General

How old are people named General?

General year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like General