Griffin Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Griffin has Welsh origins, meaning 'strong chief'. It evolved from the name Gruffudd and is associated with strength and leadership. While it has no direct biblical relevance, it gained popularity in the 19th century and remains a strong and unique name today, with notable individuals bearing it.
The name Griffin is most popular in New Hampshire, USA 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 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, Griffin has been too falling for male in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Griffin' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1457th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1805th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1863rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1531st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 557th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 234th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 235th out of 23106 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 15137th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 6879th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6703rd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 5664th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Griffin' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Griffin"
Pronunciation
/ˈɡrɪfɪn/
Origin
Welsh
Etymology
The name Griffin is derived from the Welsh name 'Gruffudd', which is composed of the elements 'gruff' meaning 'strong' and 'udd' meaning 'chief' or 'lord'.
Meaning
Strong chief
Language Evolution
Gruffudd, Griffin
Historical Usage
The name Griffin gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, often associated with the mythical creature that combines features of an eagle and a lion.
Variants & Derivatives
Griff, Gryff, Griffin Jr.
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Griffin is perceived as strong and unique, often associated with creativity and individuality.
Famous People
Griffin Dunne, Griffin Kelly, Griffin McElroy
Explore More Griffin Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Griffin"
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 "Griffin"
"Griffin" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1457th of 7545 | 402 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1805th of 6773 | 291 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1863rd of 7552 | 340 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1531st of 10718 | 511 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 557th of 16616 | 4,830 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 234th of 24088 | 23,706 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 235th of 23106 | 19,249 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 15137th of 19264 | 13 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 6879th of 27321 | 175 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 6703rd of 35406 | 281 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 5664th of 30306 | 268 |
Regional Popularity of "Griffin" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
67.37% 1594th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
78.92% 1857th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
63.27% 1409th/2227 |
- |
68.03% 1941st/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
57.64% 1693rd/2937 |
63.82% 2223rd/3483 |
49.91% 1756th/3518 |
37.91% 1533rd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
13.35% 492nd/3685 |
10.15% 454th/4475 |
12.65% 657th/5194 |
8.42% 532nd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
3.80% 174th/4582 |
3.18% 164th/5164 |
3.79% 277th/7313 |
3.85% 287th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
3.97% 158th/3984 |
4.81% 216th/4487 |
4.19% 286th/6822 |
4.49% 282nd/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Griffin" by Generation for 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) |
- | - |
73.68% 5388th/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
81.41% 5554th/6822 |
- |
State-by-State Popularity of "Griffin"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Griffin" 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.