Pilot
Meaning of Pilot
Pilot is an English occupational name deriving from Middle English pīlote—borrowed via Old French pilote from Medieval Latin pilota, itself rooted in the Greek παράλιος (parálīos), originally denoting the helmsman or steersman of a vessel—later generalized to denote an aviator. In onomastic classification it occupies a niche category of occupational surnames repurposed as given names, conveying connotations of technical proficiency, navigational leadership and pioneering spirit without resorting to overt metaphor. Analysis of U.S. Social Security data from 2005 through 2023 reveals sporadic but consistent adoption at the margins of popularity: annual occurrences have fluctuated between five and nineteen births, peaking at nineteen (rank 885) in 2009 and most recently registering seven instances (rank 922) in 2023. This pattern underscores its status as a deliberate, albeit rare, choice among parents seeking a name that amalgamates historical gravitas with contemporary associations of innovation, precision and command.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as PY-luht (/ˈpaɪlət/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
