Graham
Graham is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Gravelly homestead or grey home.
Origin and history
Graham is a surname-derived masculine given name of Old English origin, historically referring to a gravelly homestead or dwelling. It established deep roots in Scotland before becoming a popular classic across the English-speaking world. In the United States, it has seen a steady rise in popularity in recent decades as a timeless, sophisticated choice.
Popularity in the United States
61,436 babies in the United States have been named Graham since 1880. It ranks #442 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #146.
States where it is most popular
- CA (7.2 %)
- TX (7.1 %)
- NC (6.4 %)
- OH (5.1 %)
- IL (4.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 61 |
| 1890-1900 | 79 |
| 1900-1910 | 126 |
| 1910-1920 | 700 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,062 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,036 |
| 1940-1950 | 963 |
| 1950-1960 | 971 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,094 |
| 1970-1980 | 2,330 |
| 1980-1990 | 4,958 |
| 1990-2000 | 6,006 |
| 2000-2010 | 7,623 |
| 2010-2019 | 19,248 |
| 2020-2029 | 15,179 |
Famous people named Graham
- Graham Greene: Author, Novelist
- Graham Nash: Musician, Singer-Songwriter
- Graham Chapman: Comedian, Actor
Fun facts
- Although of Old English geographic origin, Graham became the surname of Clan Graham, a historic Scottish clan that played a major role in Scottish history.
- It is one of the clearest examples of dialectal differences between American English (one syllable, 'GRAM') and British English (two syllables, 'GRAY-um').