Junior

Junior - A very unique male name

Junior appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #385. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Junior and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Junior? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Junior. The baby boy name Junior was given to 294 baby boys in 2025, ranking #762 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 4,987 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Junior peaked in popularity 101 years ago in 1925 on position 114.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Junior, 1-5?

Junior is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Junior is currently topping the baby name charts in Massachusetts at position #451 - and is the least popular in Indiana at position #1,021.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Junior is where you live.

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Junior origin and meaning

Latin, via English

The younger — used for a son with the same name as his father

Junior is the Latin word for 'younger,' long used as the everyday name of boys styled 'Jr.' after their fathers, and sometimes given outright as a first name. It peaked as a given name in 1926 and has drifted gently downward ever since, surviving as a familiar, affectionate staple.

Attested etymology

Junior is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Junior, pop culture references for the name Junior and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Junior

We've found the following names that sound similar to Junior, sorted by popularity.

Jamari / Jamar / Jamir / Jahmir / Jomar / Jameer / Jamere / Jahmari / Jamario / Jamier /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Junior

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Junior a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Junior?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

JOON-yer · /ˈdʒuːnjər/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Famous bearers

• Junior Seau — American NFL linebacker, born Tiaina Baul Seau Jr. and universally known as Junior Seau (1969–2012) Contemporary

Style

Word nameNickname name

Why parents choose it

Junior feels warm and familial — a name that announces a son's place in the family line from day one.

Worth knowing

• It describes a relationship rather than an identity, which some boys outgrow
• People will assume it is a suffix or nickname and ask for the 'real' first name