Boy · #9,752 in 2026

Pilot

An aircraft pilot, or aviator, is an individual who controls an aircraft's flight by operating its directional controls. Other aircrew members, such as navigators and flight engineers, are also considered aviators because they assist in operating the aircraft’s navigation and engine systems.

Current Rank
#9,752
Peak Rank
#4,922 (2009)
Total Babies
160
5-Yr Trend
Stable
2005
First Year
2023
Last Year
2009
Peak Year
#4922
Peak Rank
160
Total Count
17
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Pilot

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

An aircraft pilot, or aviator, is an individual who controls an aircraft's flight by operating its directional controls. Other aircrew members, such as navigators and flight engineers, are also considered aviators because they assist in operating the aircraft’s navigation and engine systems.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
[</span>icon<span typeof=\"mw:Entity\" id=\"mwPQ\">]</span>","txt":"[icon]"}]]}'> This section needs expansion . You can help by adding missing information . ( March 2015 ) To ensure the safety of people in the air and on the ground, early aviation soon required that aircraft be under the operational control of a properly trained, certified pilot at all times, who is responsible for the safe and legal completion of the flight. The Aéro-Club de France delivered the first certificate to Louis Blériot in 1908—followed by Glenn Curtiss , Léon Delagrange , and Robert Esnault-Pelterie . The British

The Story of Pilot

Pilot first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2005, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2009, when 19 Pilots were born — ranking #4,922 that year. As of 2026, Pilot ranks #9,752 for baby boys with 7 births, with steady use. In total, more than 160 Pilots have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Pilot

Phonetically similar names — useful when Pilot is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Pilate
  • Pilote
  • Pallet
  • Palette
  • Palate
  • Pellet
  • Pullet
  • Palet
  • Pallett
  • Pelet
  • Palat
  • Pelot

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Pilot

What does the name Pilot mean?
An aircraft pilot, or aviator, is an individual who controls an aircraft's flight by operating its directional controls. Other aircrew members, such as navigators and flight engineers, are also considered aviators because they assist in operating the aircraft’s navigation and engine systems.
How popular is Pilot in 2026?
In 2026, Pilot ranks #9,752 among boys' names in the U.S., with 7 babies given the name that year.
When was Pilot most popular?
Pilot reached its peak popularity in 2009, ranking #4,922 that year with 19 babies given the name.
Is Pilot a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Pilot is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Pilot?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Pilot include Durham, Gabreil, Dalonte. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

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About the name Pilot

Pilot is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2005 and has accumulated 160 births in the dataset. Pilot's peak popularity came in 2009 when it ranked #4,922. Use the chart and map above to compare Pilot's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.