Napoleon Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Napoleon has Italian roots, meaning 'Lion of the New City'. It evolved from 'Napoleone' to its modern form and is associated with strong leadership and ambition. The biblical relevance is not applicable. The name became widely recognized due to the historical figure Napoleon Bonaparte, who had a significant impact on European history.
The name Napoleon is most popular in Alabama, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Napoleon has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Napoleon' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 578th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 720th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 814th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1021st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1614th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3296th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 5445th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 9107th out of 9107 names. Discover how the name 'Napoleon' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Napoleon"
Pronunciation
/nəˈpoʊliən/
Origin
Italian
Etymology
The name Napoleon is derived from the Italian name 'Napoleone', which is of uncertain origin but may be related to the Latin 'Napoli', meaning Naples.
Meaning
Lion of the New City
Language Evolution
Napoleone, Napoleon
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity due to the influence of Napoleon Bonaparte, the French military leader and emperor, who rose to prominence in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Variants & Derivatives
Napoleone, Napoleonette
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, the name Napoleon is often associated with ambition, leadership, and military prowess, although it can also carry connotations of tyranny due to historical events.
Famous People
Napoleon Bonaparte, Napoleon III
Explore More Napoleon Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Napoleon"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Napoleon"
"Napoleon" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 578th of 7545 | 1,868 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 720th of 6773 | 1,364 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 814th of 7552 | 1,569 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1021st of 10718 | 1,012 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1614th of 16616 | 764 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 3296th of 24088 | 477 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 5445th of 23106 | 202 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 9107th of 9107 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Napoleon" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
43.00% 593rd/1379 |
19.15% 453rd/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
69.54% 1082nd/1556 |
22.35% 526th/2353 |
73.11% 1131st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
38.75% 863rd/2227 |
54.94% 1335th/2430 |
22.08% 630th/2853 |
40.40% 1121st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
38.20% 1122nd/2937 |
49.61% 1728th/3483 |
23.17% 815th/3518 |
31.80% 1286th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
41.98% 1547th/3685 |
57.01% 2551st/4475 |
28.21% 1465th/5194 |
24.14% 1525th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
71.85% 3292nd/4582 |
76.12% 3931st/5164 |
40.95% 2995th/7313 |
35.59% 2656th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
74.46% 5080th/6822 |
63.67% 3996th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Napoleon" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Napoleon"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Napoleon" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.