Find out how popular the first name Montreal has been for the last 50 years (from 1975 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Montreal by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Montreal is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 10 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Montreal.

The history of the first name Montreal

The name Montreal is derived from the French phrase "mont royal," which means "royal mountain." It is believed to have originated in the 16th century, when Jacques Cartier, a French explorer, first used the term to refer to the hill located on the island of Montreal in the St. Lawrence River. The name was later adopted for the city that grew up around the mountain.

The earliest recorded use of the name Montreal can be traced back to Cartier's travel journals from his voyages to the area in the 1530s. He referred to the hill as "Mont Royal" in his writings, and the name eventually became associated with the settlement that developed nearby.

While the name Montreal itself does not have any direct historical references or appearances in ancient texts or religious scriptures, the concept of a "royal mountain" or a prominent geographical feature being named after a monarch or ruler was not uncommon in various cultures throughout history.

In terms of notable individuals named Montreal, the name has been relatively uncommon as a given name. However, there are a few examples worth mentioning:

1. Montreal de Berlier (born around 1450), a French scholar and theologian who served as the rector of the University of Paris in the late 15th century.
2. Montreal du Verger (1432-1499), a French nobleman and military leader who fought in the Hundred Years' War.
3. Montreal de la Cluse (1633-1701), a French Benedictine monk and historian who wrote about the history of the Savoy region.
4. Montreal de Courten (1568-1636), a French-Swiss nobleman and military officer who served in the Thirty Years' War.
5. Montreal de Laval (1659-1738), the first Roman Catholic bishop of Quebec and the founder of the Seminary of Quebec, which later became Laval University.

While the name Montreal has its roots in French and is closely associated with the city in Canada, it has not been widely used as a given name throughout history. Nevertheless, its connection to the "royal mountain" and the early exploration of the region adds a unique and interesting historical context to its origins and meaning.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Montreal was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Montreal, please contact us.

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