
General is not as popular as it once was in the early twentieth century. It was meant to honor those who fought during the Civil War, especially the well-known individuals like Grant and Lee. Despite that, General has not been a top 1,000 baby name for boys in the United States since 1946.
Meaning of the name General:
General: military rank
Origin of the name General:
The baby name General became popularized in America after the Civil War, especially due to General Robert E. Lee and General Ulysses S. Grant. The name was meant to honor these brave individuals, no matter what side people were on. General only remained popular in the United States until the 1940s.
Symbolism of the name General:
The baby name General means “military rank.” It comes from as simple as a place as a way to honor these members of the armed forces.

Style of the name General:
Modern to the late nineteenth century
Gender of the name General:
General is a strong and commanding baby name for boys.
Pronunciation of the name General:
JEN-ruhl or JEN-uh-ruhl
Number of syllables in the name General:
Two or three depending on pronunciation
Emotion evoked from the name General:
General is a name that feels in control and focused. It has a lot of power behind it and feels very serious.
Alternative spellings for the name General:
- Genneral
- Generral
- Jeneral
- Jenneral
- Jenerral
Nicknames for the name General:
- Gen
- Commander
- Gennie
- Genny
- Genni
- Ral
Popularity of the name General:
The baby name General was a top 500 name in America from 1904 to 1910, except for the year 1905 when it was rank 529. The most popular it ever was in the last century was in 1900 at rank 387. General has not been a top 1,000 name option in America since 1946 when it was rank 972.
Related names for the name General:
Great middle names for General and their meanings:
- Apollo (destroyer)
- Jarvis (servant spear)
- Brody (ditch)
- Stonewall (word name)
- Caesar (ruler)
- Lee (clearing, meadow)
- Grant (tall, big)
- Carson (son of marsh-dwellers)
Famous people with the name General:
- General Johnson (musician)
Generals in popular culture:
- General Zahl (character from DC Comics)
- General Zod (character from DC Comcs)
- General Antiope (character from “Wonder Woman”)