Graham

Complete Name Analysis & Etymology Guide
58,681 Total Births
145 Years of Data
2024 Peak Popularity Year
2,800 Peak Births

Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis

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Summary

Graham is a Scottish name meaning 'gravelly home', originating from a place name. It has evolved from historical forms such as Grām and Grahame. The name is associated with traits of reliability and strength, and has no biblical relevance. It gained popularity in the 19th century and remains a traditional name today.

Etymology & Cultural Background

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Pronunciation

/ˈɡreɪ.əm/

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Origin

Scottish

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Etymology

The name Graham is derived from the Old Scottish surname, which itself comes from a place name meaning 'gravelly homestead' or 'gravelly area'.

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Meaning

gravelly home

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Language Evolution

Grām, Graham, Grahame

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Historical Usage

Graham gained popularity as a given name in the 19th century, especially in Scotland and England, influenced by notable figures bearing the surname.

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Variants & Derivatives

Grahame, Gray, Grem

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Modern Popularity & Image

Today, Graham is perceived as a traditional and strong name, often associated with reliability and stability.

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Famous People

Graham Bell, Graham Norton, Graham Greene

📊 Trend Analysis

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Boy Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Rising
25-Year Trend: Consistently Rising
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Girl Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Stable
25-Year Trend: Relatively Stable

Explore More Name Visualizations

Key Insights

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Popularity Trend

Highly Popular name with 2,800 peak births in 2024

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Geographic Spread

Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in North Carolina

Historical Span

Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends

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Generational Impact

Influenced 12 different American generations with varying popularity

🔊 Alternative Spellings & Similar Sounds (1 Variations)

Explore names that share identical pronunciation with different spellings. These variations offer alternative options for parents seeking unique yet familiar-sounding choices. This curated collection includes 1 carefully selected variations that maintain the same phonetic sound while providing distinct spelling options.

Why consider alternative spellings? Different spellings can offer unique cultural significance or personal preference while maintaining the familiar sound. This collection covers various spelling patterns, helping you find variations that match your preferences.

Historical Birth Statistics

Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.

Yearly Ranking History

Popularity Across American Generations

Generation Gender Rank Total Names
G.I. Generation (1901-1927) Boy 620th of 7545 1,650
Silent Generation (1928-1945) Boy 596th of 6773 1,816
Baby Boomers (1946-1964) Boy 731st of 7552 1,903
Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) Boy 561st of 10718 3,342
Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) Boy 387th of 16616 8,768
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) Boy 349th of 24088 13,635
Generation Alpha (2013-2024) Boy 171st of 23106 27,190
G.I. Generation (1901-1927) Girl 9107th of 9107 5
Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) Girl 15428th of 19264 12
Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) Girl 17086th of 27321 28
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) Girl 17408th of 35406 56
Generation Alpha (2013-2024) Girl 9857th of 30306 121

Regional Popularity by Generation - Male Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
62.50%
885th/1416
44.53%
614th/1379
21.68%
513th/2366
71.80%
820th/1142
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
41.40%
640th/1546
34.38%
535th/1556
24.78%
583rd/2353
54.75%
847th/1547
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
41.18%
917th/2227
26.46%
643rd/2430
24.40%
696th/2853
26.31%
730th/2775
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
18.76%
551st/2937
13.78%
480th/3483
17.31%
609th/3518
12.81%
518th/4044
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
8.82%
325th/3685
7.35%
329th/4475
7.68%
399th/5194
6.62%
418th/6317
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
5.94%
272nd/4582
6.64%
343rd/5164
4.64%
339th/7313
6.43%
480th/7463
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
2.94%
117th/3984
4.50%
202nd/4487
2.76%
188th/6822
3.59%
225th/6276

Regional Popularity by Generation - Female Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
- - - -
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
- - - -
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
- - - -
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
- - - -
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
- - - -
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
- - - -
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
- - - -

State-by-State Popularity

This map shows relative popularity across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.

Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends in the United States

This name shows strongest popularity in North Carolina across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been consistently rising. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, usage has been too falling for male in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been too falling for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, too falling for male in West. Across generations, popularity patterns vary significantly: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 620th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 596th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 731st out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 561st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 387th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 349th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 171st out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 9107th out of 9107 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 15428th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 17086th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 17408th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 9857th out of 30306 names. Explore how this name has evolved through American history with comprehensive regional and generational analysis.

Infographic: Name meaning, origin, and popularity trends in the United States (US baby name analysis chart)
[600x500px image] Etymology and historical popularity analysis
Infographic: Alternative spellings and similar pronunciation names
[600x500px image] Alternative spellings and similar pronunciation names