Craig Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: krayg //kreɪɡ//
Origin: Scottish; Gaelic
Meaning: Scottish: rocky; Gaelic: crag
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Craig originates from the Scottish Gaelic word "creag," meaning "rock" or "cliff." This etymology reflects the geographical features of Scotland, where the name was likely first used to denote someone who lived near a prominent rock or cliff. The name entered the English language through the Scots, particularly during the Middle Ages, as the Gaelic language and culture began to influence the surrounding regions.
The transition into English was facilitated by the Norman influence in Scotland and the subsequent integration of Gaelic names into English-speaking communities. Historically, the name Craig has been borne by various notable figures, particularly in Scotland.
One significant milestone is the use of the name in the 12th century, when it became associated with several Scottish clans, particularly the Clan Craig, which played a role in the feudal system of the time. The name also appears in various historical documents and literature, reflecting its longstanding presence in Scottish culture.
Additionally, the name Craig is mentioned in the context of Scottish nobility and land ownership, further embedding it in the historical narrative of Scotland. Culturally, the name Craig carries connotations of strength and stability, resonating with its literal meaning of "rock." This symbolism has contributed to its endurance as a given name over the centuries.
The name has also inspired various diminutive forms, although these are less commonly noted in historical texts. Overall, Craig reflects a deep connection to the Scottish landscape and heritage, embodying both a physical and cultural identity that has persisted through time.
Famous people named Craig
In this section, you will find notable people named Craig. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Craig who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Craig who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Craig Ferguson is a comedian and actor best known for The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The Drew Carey Show, and How to Train Your Dragon.
Craig David is a singer and songwriter best known for Fill Me In, 7 Days, and Walking Away.
Craig T. Nelson is an actor best known for Coach, Poltergeist, and The Incredibles.
Craig Robinson is an actor and comedian best known for The Office, Hot Tub Time Machine, and This Is the End.
Craig McCracken is an animator and creator best known for The Powerpuff Girls, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, and Wander Over Yonder.
Craig Sager was a sports broadcaster best known for his work with TNT and his colorful suits.
Craig Venter is a biotechnologist best known for being one of the first to sequence the human genome and founding the J. Craig Venter Institute.
Fictional characters named Craig
The following list of fictional characters named Craig is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Craig is a fictional character from the animated television series Craig of the Creek. He is a young boy who embarks on adventures with his friends in a neighborhood creek.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Craig, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Craig. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Craig was first seen in the United States in 1881.
Craig has ranked as high as #76 nationally, which occurred in 1960, and has been most popular in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan.
In the past 5 years the name Craig has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Craig is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Craig was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Craig (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 10 | |
| TX | 7 | |
| FL | 7 | |
| PA | 6 | |
| MI | 6 | |
| NC | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Craig.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 88 |
| 2023 | 114 |
| 2022 | 121 |
| 2021 | 125 |
| 2020 | 149 |
| 2019 | 205 |
| 2018 | 161 |
| 2017 | 209 |
| 2016 | 237 |
| 2015 | 236 |
| 2014 | 228 |
| 2013 | 268 |
| 2012 | 291 |
| 2011 | 272 |
| 2010 | 362 |
| 2009 | 367 |
| 2008 | 428 |
| 2007 | 471 |
| 2006 | 463 |
| 2005 | 504 |
| 2004 | 523 |
| 2003 | 607 |
| 2002 | 689 |
| 2001 | 682 |
| 2000 | 808 |
| 1999 | 854 |
| 1998 | 880 |
| 1997 | 1,098 |
| 1996 | 1,198 |
| 1995 | 1,355 |
| 1994 | 1,507 |
| 1993 | 1,837 |
| 1992 | 2,070 |
| 1991 | 2,399 |
| 1990 | 2,907 |
| 1989 | 3,156 |
| 1988 | 3,306 |
| 1987 | 3,364 |
| 1986 | 3,926 |
| 1985 | 3,954 |
| 1984 | 3,959 |
| 1983 | 4,085 |
| 1982 | 4,022 |
| 1981 | 4,095 |
| 1980 | 4,235 |
| 1979 | 4,028 |
| 1978 | 4,473 |
| 1977 | 4,561 |
| 1976 | 4,732 |
| 1975 | 5,112 |
| 1974 | 5,539 |
| 1973 | 6,294 |
| 1972 | 6,731 |
| 1971 | 7,958 |
| 1970 | 9,367 |
| 1969 | 8,783 |
| 1968 | 7,862 |
| 1967 | 7,310 |
| 1966 | 7,733 |
| 1965 | 7,876 |
| 1964 | 7,751 |
| 1963 | 7,895 |
| 1962 | 8,548 |
| 1961 | 10,233 |
| 1960 | 10,720 |
| 1959 | 9,932 |
| 1958 | 7,272 |
| 1957 | 7,069 |
| 1956 | 7,422 |
| 1955 | 7,447 |
| 1954 | 7,180 |
| 1953 | 6,460 |
| 1952 | 6,187 |
| 1951 | 5,623 |
| 1950 | 4,888 |
| 1949 | 4,327 |
| 1948 | 3,986 |
| 1947 | 3,640 |
| 1946 | 2,471 |
| 1945 | 1,597 |
| 1944 | 1,321 |
| 1943 | 1,132 |
| 1942 | 892 |
| 1941 | 539 |
| 1940 | 384 |
| 1939 | 348 |
| 1938 | 321 |
| 1937 | 330 |
| 1936 | 205 |
| 1935 | 170 |
| 1934 | 138 |
| 1933 | 111 |
| 1932 | 106 |
| 1931 | 112 |
| 1930 | 105 |
| 1929 | 106 |
| 1928 | 85 |
| 1927 | 102 |
| 1926 | 80 |
| 1925 | 97 |
| 1924 | 87 |
| 1923 | 112 |
| 1922 | 81 |
| 1921 | 80 |
| 1920 | 77 |
| 1919 | 57 |
| 1918 | 89 |
| 1917 | 59 |
| 1916 | 57 |
| 1915 | 72 |
| 1914 | 38 |
| 1913 | 37 |
| 1912 | 26 |
| 1911 | 11 |
| 1910 | 8 |
| 1909 | 12 |
| 1908 | 10 |
| 1907 | 8 |
| 1906 | 16 |
| 1904 | 5 |
| 1903 | 7 |
| 1902 | 5 |
| 1901 | 6 |
| 1900 | 9 |
| 1899 | 5 |
| 1896 | 5 |
| 1894 | 8 |
| 1892 | 5 |
| 1890 | 7 |
| 1888 | 7 |
| 1886 | 5 |
| 1881 | 5 |