Napoleon

Napoleon - A very unique male name

Napoleon appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #460. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Napoleon and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Napoleon? 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 Napoleon. The baby boy name Napoleon was given to 6 baby boys in 2025, ranking #3689 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 244,381 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Napoleon peaked in popularity 115 years ago in 1911 on position 392.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Napoleon, 1-5?

Napoleon is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Napoleon is currently topping the baby name charts in California at position #2,385 - and is the least popular in California at position #2,385.

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 Napoleon is where you live.

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Napoleon origin and meaning

Italian Napoleone — exact derivation disputed

Uncertain — from Italian Napoleone, traditionally linked to Naples, but the precise derivation is disputed

In US data since 1910, Napoleon has never been common — its peak was just 95 births in 1955 — because one namesake dominates it completely. The name is inseparable from the French emperor, for better and worse.

Origin uncertain

Napoleon is a 8 letter name with 4 syllables.

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

Similar to Napoleon

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

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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 Napoleon

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 Napoleon 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 Napoleon?

4 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

nuh-POH-lee-un · /nəˈpoʊliən/

Around the world

• Napoleone (Italian) — Original Italian form
• Napoleón (Spanish) — Spanish form

Spellings and nicknames

• Napoleone — Italian form, rare in US data

Nicknames: NapLeon

Famous bearers

• Napoleon Bonaparte — French military leader and emperor whose name defines this name worldwide (1769–1821) Historical
• Napoleon Dynamite — Awkward teenage title character of the 2004 film Napoleon Dynamite (Fictional, 2004) Fictional

Style

Classic

Why parents choose it

Only parents comfortable with an enormous historical shadow choose Napoleon; its weight is the point for some and the obstacle for most.

Worth knowing

• Dominant association with Napoleon Bonaparte, including the 'Napoleon complex' phrase
• Napoleon Dynamite adds a comic association