Minor is of Latin origin, derived from the word 'minor', meaning 'smaller'. It was originally used as an adjective to describe someone who was physically small, but it has since evolved into a given name for both boys and girls. In some cases, Minor may also have been derived from the surname Minor, which is believed to have originated as a nickname for someone of short stature or perhaps a younger son.
The name Minor experienced fluctuations in popularity over the years, with a significant peak during World War I, from 1914 to 1918. The highest number of births recorded was 41 in both 1917 and 1918. However, after these peaks, the frequency of the name decreased substantially, averaging around 6-20 births per year for most years between 1920 and 2015, with several periods of very low popularity, including decades where fewer than 10 babies were named Minor each year.