How popular is the baby name Captain in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Use the popularity graph and data table below to find out! Plus, see all the blog posts that mention the name Captain.

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Popularity of the baby name Captain


Posts that mention the name Captain

Sea-themed names given to sea-born babies

Earlier this year, singer Ed Sheeran welcomed a baby girl named Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran. She wasn’t actually born at sea — “Seaborn” is her mother’s surname — but did you know that many of the babies named “Seaborn” throughout history were in fact born at sea?

And it doesn’t stop at “Seaborn.” These sea-born babies got all sorts of interesting names hinting at the circumstances of their birth. Here’s a round-up of what I’ve spotted in the records…

Sea-inspired names:

  • Sea
  • Seaborn (The earliest American example I know of is Seaborn Cotton, born in August of 1633 while as his parents were traveling from England to New England. Notably, he was the uncle of Cotton Mather.)
  • Seabourn
  • Seaborne
  • Seabourne
  • Seafield
  • Seaford
  • Seaforth (e.g., Charles Seaforth Stewart)
  • Sealine
  • Seaman
  • Sea-Mercy (This one comes from Sea-Mercy Adams, a man who got married in Philadelphia in 1686.)

Ocean-inspired names:

Marine-inspired names:

  • Marina
  • Marine
  • Mariner
  • Marino

Atlantic-inspired names:

  • Atlanta
  • Atlante
  • Atlantia
  • Atlantic (One was Atlantic Seaborn Ford, born in 1863. Another was Atlantic Missouri Linne, born in 1889.)
  • Atlantica
  • Atlantika

Pacific-inspired names:

  • Pacific
  • Pacifica
  • Pacifico

And, finally, all of the other sea-birth-inspired baby names I’ve seen:

If you had a baby on the open ocean, what would you name that baby?

Image: Salem Harbor (1853) by Fitz Henry Lane

Popular and unique baby names in Idaho, 2012

Flag of Idaho
Flag of Idaho

According to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, the state’s top names two years ago were Sophia for girls and Liam for boys.

Here are Idaho’s top 25 girl names and top 25 boy names of 2012:

Girl Names

  1. Sophia (115 baby girls)
  2. Olivia (113)
  3. Emma (100)
  4. Ava (79)
  5. Abigail (76)
  6. Elizabeth (71)
  7. Chloe (69)
  8. Emily (62) – tie
  9. Zoey (62) – tie
  10. Brooklyn (61)
  11. Hannah* (60)
  12. Madison (57)
  13. Ella (56) – tie
  14. Isabella (56) – tie
  15. Lily (56) – tie
  16. Avery (54)
  17. Grace (51)
  18. Amelia (50) – tie
  19. Evelyn (50) – tie
  20. Hailey* (48)
  21. Ellie (46) – tie
  22. Natalie (46) – tie
  23. Charlotte* (45) – tie
  24. Paisley* (45) – tie
  25. Addison (44)

Boy Names

  1. Liam (133 baby boys)
  2. William (94)
  3. Mason (81)
  4. Jacob (79)
  5. Michael* (78) – tie
  6. Samuel (78) – tie
  7. Wyatt (77)
  8. Logan (76)
  9. Ethan (75)
  10. Carter (73)
  11. Hunter (72)
  12. Aiden (71)
  13. Benjamin (69) – tie
  14. Jackson (69) – tie
  15. Gabriel (68)
  16. Andrew (67)
  17. Henry* (66) – tie
  18. Noah (66) – tie
  19. Cooper* (65) – tie
  20. Elijah (65) – tie
  21. David* (64)
  22. Isaac (63)
  23. Alexander* (57) – tie
  24. Jayden (57) – tie
  25. Joseph* (57) – tie
  26. Owen (57) – tie

*New to the top 25 since 2011.

Idaho’s annual report also includes a section called “Selected Unique Baby Names, Yewneek Baybee Spellings,” which is rather awesome.

Here are the handpicked oddballs of 2012:

Unique Girl NamesUnique Boy Names
Alixathymia, Aunastasha, Beloved, Blessing, Britannica, Burdyn, Challyss, Echkoe, Exodus, Harlequinn, Idalyz, Killary, Lulubell, Lyrica, Mercy, Miracle, Mystic, Noble, Oasis, Pearadice, Savvy, Secret, Sunshyne, Theory, VersaillesAdamant, Arsin, Awesome, Cactus, Captain, Chipper, Cross, Denym, Dually, Dynamic, Falchion, Glacier, Kasteel, Kazys, Krozlee, Lock, Mehdiullah, Mogley, Natavious, Nyte, Peregrin, Pilot, Torque, Truce, Wild

Thoughts:

  • Alixathymia – Part name, part medical condition.
  • Adamant – Synonym for stubborn. Or an Adam Ant reference. Or both.
  • Burdyn – “Burden”? Really?
  • Cactus – A nature name I’ve never seen before.
  • Dually – Rosamund Pike should pick this for kid #2. (Her firstborn is “Solo.”)
  • Falchion – A type of sword. (Do they talk about falchions on Game of Thrones?)
  • Glacier – There’s a Glacier in Quebec as well.
  • Killary – This would make a great roller derby name! So would Hellga the American Gladiator name.
  • Truce – Nice to see a name that promotes cooperation/peace instead of conflict/anger (like Rebel, Fury, Rage, Rowdy, Savage, and so on). Truce reminds me of Armistice. Speaking of armistice…
  • Versailles – It’s a pretty word, but what percentage of Americans can spell it correctly? Or even pronounce it?

And, since I never wrote about the Idaho baby names of 2011, I’ll throw in the unique names from that year as well:

Unique Girl Names (2011)Unique Boy Names (2011)
Asma, Ajla, Bandana, Birdie, Candelaria, Cinderella, Courage, Disney-Gin, Elphaba, Jerzi, Kaymin, Khryztale, Kyraeveryn, November, Rainbow, Rockee, Rogue, Ropeer, Satchel, Soliscity, Temperenz, Thunder, Trypzee, Winter, XxoieAdakiss, Aegis Orion, Beauxdarin, Bluesky, Cinch, Coyote, Dagr, Deevo, Diggory, Doc, Eighthin, Flint, Gator, General, Iron, Jayger, John-Wayne, Khryztian, Maverik, Pistol, Pragedis, Rifle, Riot, Slate, Wilderness

Thoughts:

  • Adakiss – A unique take on Atticus
  • Dagr, Pistol, Rifle, Riot – More weaponry & violence. Lovely.
  • Deevo – Inspired by Devo? Perhaps. Two references to ’80s music in a single post? Yup. You must whip it

Finally, here are earlier lists of Idaho’s unique baby names (2006 through 2010).

Source: Idaho Vital Statistics

Image: Adapted from Flag of Idaho (public domain)

Baby names that reached the U.S. top 1,000 just twice

The following names ranked among the top 1,000 U.S. baby names just twice from 1880 through 2006:

Girl Names

  • Adriene (1962, 1967)
  • Agusta (1882, 1884)
  • Aili (1909, 1910)
  • Alcie (1880, 1886)
  • Alethea (1973, 1974)
  • Alexina (1881, 1882)
  • Almedia (1881, 1885)
  • Aloma (1942, 1943)
  • Alwina (1882, 1886)
  • Alys (1880, 1910)
  • Ama (1881, 1885)
  • Amalie (1881, 1883)
  • Amma (1881, 1887)
  • Anastacia (1880, 1896)
  • Angeles (2003, 2004)
  • Anie (1881, 1882)
  • Anona (1904, 1905)
  • Antonetta (1910, 1915)
  • Araminta (1880, 1884)
  • Ardath (1905, 1923)
  • Arkie (1883, 1889)
  • Arta (1881, 1884)
  • Ayesha (1979, 1982)
  • Bebe (1923, 1932)
  • Bertina (1882, 1893)
  • Bethann (1965, 1967)
  • Brigid (1965, 1966)
  • Brinda (1951, 1952)
  • Britny (1989, 1990)
  • Bryn (1999, 2004)
  • Carlota (1887, 1892)
  • Celie (1880, 1887)
  • Cena (1881, 1883)
  • Chaney (1880, 1888)
  • Channie (1884, 1885)
  • Chante (1977, 1993)
  • Charlotta (1880, 1884)
  • Chelsy (1991, 1992)
  • Cherelle (1986, 1989)
  • Cherilyn (1972, 1975)
  • Chimere (1980, 1981)
  • Ciarra (1995, 1997)
  • Cicely (1973, 1974)
  • Cielo (2000, 2001)
  • Ciji (1983, 1984)
  • Cinthia (1991, 1996)
  • Cleva (1884, 1885)
  • Clevie (1884, 1885)
  • Columbia (1882, 1893)
  • Consuela (1971, 1972)
  • Contina (1972, 1973)
  • Coralie (1880, 1929)
  • Cornie (1885, 1887)
  • Cressie (1889, 1899)
  • Crete (1881, 1882)
  • Cuba (1898, 1899)
  • Cyntha (1881, 1884)
  • Daja (1995, 1996)
  • Danyel (1974, 1976)
  • Danyell (1973, 1974)
  • Davante (1992, 1993)
  • Dawne (1962, 1965)
  • Deliah (1880, 1883)
  • Delinda (1964, 1965)
  • Dellia (1881, 1888)
  • Dorthey (1932, 1934)
  • Dossie (1881, 1885)
  • Echo (1983, 1984)
  • Edla (1882, 1889)
  • Ednah (1880, 1887)
  • Edra (1905, 1908)
  • Elana (1960, 1966)
  • Eleonore (1882, 1887)
  • Elfie (1883, 1888)
  • Elwanda (1921, 1922)
  • Epsie (1881, 1888)
  • Eris (1923, 1924)
  • Erykah (1997, 1998)
  • Estefany (1996, 2002)
  • Evelena (1885, 1910)
  • Ever (1893, 1901)
  • Farah (1976, 1977)
  • Flavia (1881, 1884)
  • Floretta (1908, 1916)
  • Franc (1882, 1883)
  • Francisqui (1883, 1892)
  • Georgeanna (1883, 1884)
  • Gidget (1966, 1967)
  • Glennis (1936, 1939)
  • Gracia (1880, 1887)
  • Gwyn (1961, 1962)
  • Hasel (1895, 1901)
  • Hennie (1882, 1883)
  • Hortensia (1927, 1928)
  • Ilo (1898, 1899)
  • Ingeborg (1901, 1905)
  • Ivonne (1992, 1993)
  • Jacquelynn (1943, 1947)
  • Jenniffer* (1972, 1973)
  • Jerilynn (1941, 1942)
  • Jesenia (1987, 1990)
  • Jinnie (1881, 1882)
  • Joell (1966, 1967)
  • Judyth (1941, 1944)
  • Kadijah (1993, 1994)
  • Kaleena (1982, 1983)
  • Kanisha (1990, 1991)
  • Kiarra (1999, 2000)
  • Kylene (1979, 1980)
  • Lakendra (1987, 1988)
  • Lalla (1885, 1888)
  • Lashunda (1977, 1980)
  • Lasonya (1971, 1972)
  • Latifah (1990, 1992)
  • Lavonda (1965, 1968)
  • Lavonia (1880, 1898)
  • Leafy (1893, 1894)
  • Leitha (1880, 1906)
  • Lempi (1899, 1904)
  • Leoma (1901, 1908)
  • Lesta (1883, 1892)
  • Lethia (1886, 1893)
  • Leyla (2005, 2006)
  • Liane (1959, 1969)
  • Lilianna (2005, 2006)
  • Liller (1880, 1885)
  • Lisbeth (2002, 2003)
  • Litha (1883, 1885)
  • Livia (2004, 2005)
  • Lorayne (1920, 1922)
  • Lorean (1901, 1920)
  • Loria (1961, 1962)
  • Loris (1935, 1936)
  • Louanna (1881, 1891)
  • Madora (1880, 1883)
  • Mahalia (1880, 1881)
  • Mallorie (1986, 1987)
  • Malorie (1986, 1987)
  • Manila (1898, 1899)
  • Maralyn (1936, 1938)
  • Margene (1929, 1935)
  • Margeret (1880, 1882)
  • Marget (1882, 1883)
  • Margrett (1885, 1888)
  • Margy (1929, 1930)
  • Markita (1984, 1985)
  • Marlana (1978, 1979)
  • Marlen (2000, 2003)
  • Marnita (1961, 1962)
  • Martika (1989, 1990)
  • Marylouise (1922, 1923)
  • Melony (1963, 1966)
  • Mena (1880, 1887)
  • Merrilee (1942, 1943)
  • Mila (1881, 2006)
  • Milda (1896, 1897)
  • Moesha (1996, 1997)
  • Mora (1881, 1887)
  • Myla (2005, 2006)
  • Naima (2005, 2006)
  • Nakita (1986, 1987)
  • Norita (1935, 1937)
  • Nyree (1973, 1975)
  • Nobie (1890, 1908)
  • Odette (1899, 1905)
  • Olinda (1893, 1895)
  • Oliva (1889, 1894)
  • Oneida (1919, 1922)
  • Opha (1887, 1897)
  • Orlena (1881, 1891)
  • Ota (1881, 1882)
  • Pamelia (1949, 1954)
  • Pearly (1884, 1904)
  • Pheobe (1885, 1889)
  • Porsche (1987, 1988)
  • Rafaela (1903, 1909)
  • Rennie (1880, 1885)
  • Rinda (1882, 1885)
  • Roena (1880, 1884)
  • Ruie (1884, 1886)
  • Salena (1977, 1995)
  • Sanjuana (1949, 1950)
  • Sebrina (1967, 1970)
  • Selah (2005, 2006)
  • Serina (1970, 1998)
  • Shanelle (1989, 1992)
  • Shanequa (1991, 1992)
  • Shaquita (1985, 1986)
  • Sharman (1949, 1950)
  • Shaunna (1978, 1979)
  • Shelvia (1937, 1938)
  • Sheyla (2001, 2006)
  • Shirl (1963, 1964)
  • Shirlie (1926, 1935)
  • Shona (1969, 1970)
  • Shyla (1999, 2006)
  • Siena (2005, 2006)
  • Signa (1890, 1892)
  • Soledad (1919, 1929)
  • Stephani (1987, 1989)
  • Tamya (2003, 2004)
  • Tayla (1998, 2006)
  • Tea (1997, 1998)
  • Thresa (1883, 1888)
  • Tinie (1881, 1885)
  • Tobi (1974, 1975)
  • Torrie (1976, 1977)
  • Toshiko (1919, 1923)
  • Valery (2005, 2006)
  • Velia (1929, 1930)
  • Vonetta (1973, 1974)
  • Wanita (1924, 1931)
  • Winter (1978, 1979)
  • Xena (1996, 1997)
  • Yahaira (2003, 2005)
  • Yuridia (2005, 2006)
  • Zana (1888, 1994)
  • Zara (2005, 2006)
  • Zhane (1994, 1995)

Boy Names

  • Abbott (1880, 1888)
  • Adron (1901, 1904)
  • Albertus (1880, 1883)
  • Alferd (1891, 1899)
  • Alfie (1967, 1968)
  • Amado (1883, 1932)
  • Ananias (1883, 1889)
  • Arnett (1893, 1897)
  • Atlas (1883, 1890)
  • Aurthur (1880, 1891)
  • Bayard (1882, 1884)
  • Bilal (1991, 2002)
  • Bjorn (1977, 1980)
  • Blas (1880, 1911)
  • Bryton (1994, 1995)
  • Burgess (1884, 1890)
  • Burrel (1884, 1889)
  • Captain (1883, 1887)
  • Cato (1880, 1891)
  • Ceasar (1883, 1900)
  • Chancey (1883, 1885)
  • Charls (1886, 1892)
  • Chauncy (1883, 1890)
  • Claudius (1890, 1893)
  • Clemon (1894, 1899)
  • Clide (1883, 1901)
  • Colie (1911, 1912)
  • Collis (1899, 1900)
  • Colon (1885, 1886)
  • Coolidge (1924, 1925)
  • Crockett (1880, 1883)
  • Darryn (1965, 1968)
  • Daulton (1994, 1997)
  • Dejon (1991, 1992)
  • Demian (1971, 1974)
  • Demonte (1993, 1994)
  • Desean (1991, 1994)
  • Desi (1956, 1970)
  • Dink (1883, 1892)
  • Dionicio (1882, 1887)
  • Dozier (1884, 1892)
  • Duff (1880, 1882)
  • Durell (1985, 1986)
  • Durrell (1985, 1986)
  • Dustan (1980, 1984)
  • Ebbie (1881, 1882)
  • Elick (1880, 1890)
  • Encarnacion (1892, 1895)
  • Ephram (1881, 1887)
  • Epifanio (1885, 1888)
  • Eustace (1882, 1885)
  • Everet (1897, 1905)
  • Ewin (1882, 1883)
  • Ferman (1886, 1893)
  • Fitzgerald (1964, 1965)
  • Flint (1959, 1960)
  • Florencio (1882, 1889)
  • Fredy (1993, 2005)
  • Fremont (1882, 1899)
  • Gaines (1882, 1885)
  • Gasper (1911, 1917)
  • Gennaro (1911, 1913)
  • Geoff (1962, 1969)
  • Gibson (1882, 1897)
  • Gorge (1880, 1900)
  • Grayling (1957, 1959)
  • Halbert (1881, 1907)
  • Hansel (1905, 1917)
  • Harl (1880, 1897)
  • Harrie (1880, 1890)
  • Hartley (1895, 1909)
  • Hartwell (1881, 1883)
  • Holmes (1880, 1903)
  • Horton (1888, 1895)
  • Hoy (1880, 1910)
  • Hurbert (1891, 1903)
  • Illya (1966, 1967)
  • Imanol (2001, 2006)
  • Ingram (1883, 1890)
  • Jarett (1997, 1998)
  • Jeb (1978, 1981)
  • Jerrad (1984, 1985)
  • Jerrel (1934, 1940)
  • Jessee (1880, 1887)
  • Jethro (1899, 1913)
  • Jobe (1882, 1887)
  • Jordi (1998, 1999)
  • Joshuah (1985, 1989)
  • Kanye (2004, 2005)
  • Kavon (2000, 2001)
  • Keenen (1990, 1991)
  • Kenji (1978, 1979)
  • Keshaun (2000, 2001)
  • Kiefer (1990, 1991)
  • Knox (1881, 1888)
  • Leandro (2005, 2006)
  • Lemmie (1900, 1903)
  • Levern (1954, 1955)
  • Lillard (1885, 1890)
  • Lindbergh (1927, 1928)
  • Linden (1943, 1947)
  • Linn (1882, 1891)
  • Lish (1889, 1893)
  • Littleton (1882, 1896)
  • Lydell (1977, 1978)
  • Macarthur (1942, 1943)
  • Mace (1883, 1902)
  • Makai (2005, 2006)
  • Mal (1880, 1883)
  • Mansfield (1890, 1909)
  • Manson (1886, 1892)
  • Messia (2005, 2006)
  • Michial (1950, 1954)
  • Mikhail (1988, 1990)
  • Minoru (1920, 1926)
  • Mustafa (2001, 2002)
  • Namon (1884, 1899)
  • Needham (1890, 1893)
  • Nile (1896, 1905)
  • Octavius (1987, 1991)
  • Olof (1883, 1891)
  • Orren (1880, 1886)
  • Ott (1882, 1891)
  • Ovid (1894, 1907)
  • Owens (1890, 1896)
  • Posey (1889, 1896)
  • Prentiss (1907, 1943)
  • Purl (1884, 1885)
  • Randolf (1953, 1955)
  • Ras (1890, 1891)
  • Rayfield (1904, 1906)
  • Reubin (1892, 1898)
  • Reynolds (1895, 1901)
  • Ridge (1988, 1989)
  • Rishi (2004, 2005)
  • Romello (1995, 1996)
  • Ruffus (1881, 1884)
  • Rustin (1979, 1980)
  • Saint (1896, 1897)
  • Severt (1882, 1896)
  • Shan (1968, 1969)
  • Sie (1888, 1890)
  • Sing (1890, 1905)
  • Tahj (1998, 1999)
  • Taj (1976, 1998)
  • Talan (2005, 2006)
  • Tandy (1883, 1899)
  • Tavion (1999, 2002)
  • Tayshaun (2004, 2005)
  • Terell (1985, 1986)
  • Theodis (1952, 1955)
  • Tilman (1881, 1884)
  • Toshio (1921, 1925)
  • Treyton (2002, 2003)
  • Tuan (1982, 1983)
  • Tyriq (1998, 1999)
  • Tyrus (1912, 1916)
  • Vander (1884, 1887)
  • Vashon (1973, 1974)
  • Vidal (1972, 1973)
  • Vinie (1885, 1895)
  • Waino (1904, 1909)
  • Wells (1881, 1886)
  • Wess (1883, 1890)
  • Wirt (1881, 1886)
  • Wood (1881, 1882)
  • Yaakov (1986, 1987)
  • Yehuda (2001, 2005)
  • Zaid (2003, 2004)

Which of the above do you like most? How about least?

P.S. Here’s a list of the names that reached the top 1,000 just once.