The first name Junior
A boy’s name.
2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
From junior. The town in West Virginia was established on November 13, 1897, and named after Henry G. Davis Jr. (1871–1896), a son of United States Senator from West Virginia Henry G. Davis (1823–1916) who had been drowned at sea off the Atlantic Coast of South Africa while returning home on the steamship Munkesenton.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 77 boys were named Junior, making it the 497th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2010, with 209 births (#230).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Junior with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Junior at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 343 boys born in the United States were named Junior, the 752nd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1926, when 1,590 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Nicknames and spellings
Nicknames for Junior
- Jun
- Junjun
- Jhun
- Jhunjhun
Famous people named Junior
50 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Junior FirpoDominican Republic association football player (born 1996)
- Júnior DíazCosta Rican footballer, born 1983
- Júnior BaianoBrazilian footballer, born 1970
- Junior MessiasBrazilian footballer (born 1991)
- Júnior MoraesBrazilian-Ukrainian footballer (born 1987)
- Júnior FernándesChilean association football player, born 1988
- Júnior MaranhãoBrazilian association football player, born 1977
- Junior KabanangaDemocratic Republic of the Congo footballer, born 1989
- Junior StanislasEnglish association football player (born 1989)
- Júnior CaiçaraBrazilian association football player, born 1989
- Júnior FellBrazilian association football player, born 1992
- Junior dos SantosBrazilian mixed martial artist, born 1984
Questions
- What does the name Junior mean?
- From junior. The town in West Virginia was established on November 13, 1897, and named after Henry G. Davis Jr. (1871–1896), a son of United States Senator from West Virginia Henry G. Davis (1823–1916) who had been drowned at sea off the Atlantic Coast of South Africa while…
- How popular is the name Junior?
- In 2025, 77 boys born in England and Wales were named Junior, ranking 497th. Its peak was 2010, with 209 births.
- What are nicknames for Junior?
- Common nicknames for Junior include Jun, Junjun, Jhun, Jhunjhun.
- Is Junior a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 43,182 US babies named Junior since 1880 were boys.
- When was Junior most popular?
- 1926 in the United States, when 1,590 babies were named Junior, its highest rank at 117th.
- Is Junior also a surname?
- Yes. Junior is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.