General is a unique and distinctive name of American origin. It is derived from the English word "general," which refers to a high-ranking military officer who holds a rank above that of a colonel but below that of a field marshal.
The name General is believed to have originated as an occupational surname given to families who were related to or worked for prominent military figures. Over time, it became adopted as a given name and has been used occasionally throughout history.
There are no specific historical figures named General, but the name has been borne by notable individuals in various fields. In the arts, there was a jazz musician named General Norman Johnson Jr., who played trombone with James Brown's Famous Flames from 1958 to 1964. In politics, General Butler Lampson was a prominent American politician and businessman during the mid-20th century.
While the name General may not have a deep-rooted historical significance like some other names, its unique and powerful connotation makes it memorable and distinctive. Its militaristic origins give it a strong and authoritative tone, which may appeal to parents looking for a name that carries weight and importance.
Overall, General is an uncommon but intriguing name choice for those seeking something different and distinctive for their child's name.
Based on the statistics provided, the name General has had a varied history of popularity in the United States over the years.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there were periods where the name was quite popular, with peaks such as 81 births in 1917 and 105 births in 1918. However, it's important to note that these figures are relative to the total population at the time.
The name's popularity began to decline significantly after World War I. Between 1924 and 1936, there were fewer than 50 births per year with the name General each year on average.
Since then, the name General has been given relatively infrequently in the United States. There were only 7 births with this name in 2021 and 2022 combined, compared to over 3 million total births in those years.
Overall, while the name General was once popular in the U.S., its popularity has significantly declined over time. However, it's worth noting that even if a name is given infrequently, each instance represents an individual with their own unique story and identity.