Craig Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Craig is a name of Scottish Gaelic origin, meaning 'rock' or 'cliff.' It has evolved from the word 'creag' through Middle English into its modern form. The name is associated with strength and reliability, and it has no biblical relevance. It gained popularity in Scotland during the Middle Ages and continues to be used widely today.
The name Craig is most popular in Iowa, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. 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, Craig has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Craig' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 737th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 270th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 53rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 52nd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 111th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 451st out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1118th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 7989th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 6852nd out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2850th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2723rd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 5627th out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Craig' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Craig"
Pronunciation
/kreɪɡ/
Origin
Scottish Gaelic
Etymology
The name Craig is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word 'creag,' which means 'rock' or 'cliff.' It reflects the rugged landscape of Scotland.
Meaning
rock, cliff
Language Evolution
Creag (Scottish Gaelic), Craig (Middle English), Craig (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Craig gained popularity in Scotland during the Middle Ages and has been used as both a first name and a surname.
Variants & Derivatives
Kraig, Kreg, Cray
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Craig is perceived as a strong and traditional name, often associated with reliability and stability.
Famous People
Craig David (singer), Craig Ferguson (comedian), Craig T. Nelson (actor)
Explore More Craig Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Craig"
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 of "Craig"
"Craig" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 737th of 7545 | 1,239 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 270th of 6773 | 8,002 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 53rd of 7552 | 129,051 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 52nd of 10718 | 102,594 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 111th of 16616 | 47,140 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 451st of 24088 | 9,299 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1118th of 23106 | 2,141 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 7989th of 9107 | 10 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 6852nd of 9204 | 19 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 2850th of 12526 | 314 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 2723rd of 19264 | 435 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 5627th of 27321 | 234 |
Regional Popularity of "Craig" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
46.05% 652nd/1416 |
37.64% 519th/1379 |
48.35% 1144th/2366 |
47.11% 538th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
13.45% 208th/1546 |
12.28% 191st/1556 |
24.69% 581st/2353 |
11.05% 171st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
1.89% 42nd/2227 |
2.39% 58th/2430 |
4.07% 116th/2853 |
1.48% 41st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
1.50% 44th/2937 |
1.32% 46th/3483 |
2.25% 79th/3518 |
1.48% 60th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
2.39% 88th/3685 |
1.77% 79th/4475 |
2.77% 144th/5194 |
2.60% 164th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
9.19% 421st/4582 |
6.53% 337th/5164 |
6.50% 475th/7313 |
7.91% 590th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
26.66% 1062nd/3984 |
19.55% 877th/4487 |
16.92% 1154th/6822 |
24.97% 1567th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Craig" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - |
88.07% 2444th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
100.00% 2937th/2937 |
74.85% 2607th/3483 |
- |
100.00% 4044th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
100.00% 3685th/3685 |
- | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Craig"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Craig" 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.