Grafton Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: GRAF-tun //ˈɡræf.tən//
Origin: English; Old English
Meaning: English: town on the gravelly hill; Old English: gravel hill
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Grafton is of English origin, derived from the Old English elements "graf" meaning "grove" or "thicket" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement." This etymology suggests a literal meaning of "settlement by the grove." The name likely emerged as a locational surname, indicating someone who lived near or was associated with a place called Grafton, which can be found in various locations across England. The transition into a given name occurred as surnames began to be used as first names, particularly from the 19th century onward, reflecting a broader trend in English naming practices during that time.
Historically, Grafton has been associated with several notable locations and figures. One significant milestone is Grafton Regis, a village in Northamptonshire, which is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.
The name has also been linked to the Grafton family, who were prominent in English history, particularly during the Tudor period. The Grafton family held various titles and lands, contributing to the name's historical resonance.
Additionally, the name appears in various historical texts and records, further solidifying its place in English heritage. Culturally, Grafton carries connotations of nature and pastoral life, reflecting the historical significance of groves and settlements in rural England.
The name evokes images of tranquility and connection to the land, which has contributed to its enduring appeal. While Grafton does not have widely recognized diminutive forms, its historical roots and associations with English geography and nobility lend it a sense of tradition and continuity within the broader tapestry of English names.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Grafton, 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 Grafton. 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 Grafton was first seen in the United States in 1886.
Grafton has ranked as high as #815 nationally, which occurred in 1916, and has been most popular in Maryland, and Alabama.
In the past 5 years the name Grafton has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Grafton 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 Grafton was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Grafton (1952)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| MD | 6 |
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 Grafton.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2013 | 16 |
| 2012 | 22 |
| 2011 | 12 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2009 | 19 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2001 | 15 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 1998 | 6 |
| 1997 | 9 |
| 1996 | 7 |
| 1995 | 7 |
| 1994 | 6 |
| 1992 | 9 |
| 1991 | 6 |
| 1989 | 5 |
| 1987 | 8 |
| 1986 | 7 |
| 1984 | 5 |
| 1983 | 5 |
| 1982 | 7 |
| 1981 | 5 |
| 1977 | 5 |
| 1974 | 5 |
| 1972 | 6 |
| 1970 | 7 |
| 1969 | 5 |
| 1965 | 6 |
| 1964 | 8 |
| 1963 | 5 |
| 1961 | 7 |
| 1960 | 10 |
| 1959 | 13 |
| 1958 | 6 |
| 1957 | 11 |
| 1956 | 13 |
| 1955 | 11 |
| 1954 | 12 |
| 1953 | 11 |
| 1952 | 15 |
| 1951 | 10 |
| 1950 | 12 |
| 1949 | 11 |
| 1948 | 14 |
| 1947 | 11 |
| 1946 | 7 |
| 1945 | 10 |
| 1944 | 10 |
| 1943 | 9 |
| 1942 | 24 |
| 1941 | 12 |
| 1940 | 18 |
| 1939 | 11 |
| 1937 | 13 |
| 1936 | 8 |
| 1935 | 11 |
| 1934 | 8 |
| 1933 | 12 |
| 1932 | 13 |
| 1931 | 10 |
| 1930 | 13 |
| 1929 | 15 |
| 1928 | 18 |
| 1927 | 11 |
| 1926 | 12 |
| 1925 | 13 |
| 1924 | 15 |
| 1923 | 15 |
| 1922 | 12 |
| 1921 | 17 |
| 1920 | 17 |
| 1919 | 12 |
| 1918 | 14 |
| 1917 | 22 |
| 1916 | 25 |
| 1915 | 21 |
| 1914 | 13 |
| 1913 | 15 |
| 1912 | 8 |
| 1909 | 5 |
| 1896 | 5 |
| 1895 | 7 |
| 1886 | 5 |