Captain
Every Captain since 1883 — 466 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Captain
Captain is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #5,242 in 2025 with 18 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1883, 466 American babies have been named Captain. Its peak came in 2018, when 33 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.
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 Captain stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Captain year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | #5,242 |
| 2024 | 12 | #6,907 |
| 2023 | 20 | #4,909 |
| 2022 | 24 | #4,322 |
| 2021 | 19 | #4,960 |
| 2020 | 21 | #4,563 |
| 2019 | 23 | #4,351 |
| 2018 | 33 | #3,383 |
| 2017 | 25 | #4,126 |
| 2016 | 32 | #3,454 |
| 2015 | 25 | #4,093 |
| 2014 | 26 | #3,918 |
| 2013 | 23 | #4,202 |
| 2012 | 17 | #5,285 |
| 2011 | 20 | #4,681 |
| 2010 | 12 | #6,753 |
| 2009 | 6 | #11,220 |
| 2008 | 11 | #7,279 |
| 2007 | 6 | #11,132 |
| 2006 | 5 | #12,328 |
| 2005 | 7 | #9,271 |
| 2004 | — | — |
| 2003 | — | — |
| 2002 | — | — |
| 2001 | — | — |
| 2000 | — | — |
| 1995 | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | 5 | #4,385 |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | 6 | #1,445 |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Captain
- Captain Beefheart Musician · 1941–2010
- Captain Tom Military personnel · b. 1920
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Captain in 2025?
Captain ranked #5,242 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 18 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Captain?
466 babies have been named Captain in the United States since 1883, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Captain most popular?
Captain peaked in 2018, when 33 newborns received the name.
Is Captain a boy or girl name?
Captain is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Captain rising or falling?
Captain is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Captain?
Well-known people named Captain include Captain Beefheart (musician), Captain Tom (military personnel).