Governor, as a given name, has been used throughout history and across various cultures. It is of Latin origin, derived from the word 'governator', which means governor or ruler. This name was originally bestowed upon individuals who held positions of authority or were believed to have governing qualities. In some instances, it may have also been given as a title rather than a name. Over time, Governor has evolved into an established forename, appearing in different spelling variations such as Gouvernor and Gouveneur.
The name Governor appears to have been popular among parents at the turn of the century and again in the late 1910s to early 1920s, with peak years seeing over 10 births annually. However, its popularity waned significantly mid-century, with only a handful of births per year from the 1940s onwards. Despite this, Governor has still been given to at least one child in every decade since the 1880s, with the most recent instance being in 2011. Overall, there have been 349 recorded births with the name Governor.