Graham Boy

Popularity: #120 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: GRAY-um //ˈɡreɪ.əm//

Origin: Scottish; English

Meaning: Scottish: gravelly homestead; English: from the gravelly place

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Graham has its roots in the Old English and Old Norse languages. It is derived from the place name "Græmhamm," which means "gravelly homestead" or "gravelly area." The name evolved through various linguistic stages, transitioning from Old English to Middle English, and eventually into its modern form in English.

The Norman Conquest in the 11th century introduced the name into the broader English lexicon, where it became associated with the Anglo-Norman aristocracy and landowners, particularly in Scotland and England. Historically, the name Graham gained prominence through notable figures, including Sir William Graham, a Scottish nobleman who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence in the late 13th century.

The name is also linked to the Graham clan, which played a significant role in Scottish history, particularly during the 15th and 16th centuries. The clan's influence is reflected in various historical documents and accounts, including the writings of Sir Walter Scott in the early 19th century, which helped to romanticize Scottish heritage and the significance of clan identities.

Culturally, the name Graham has been associated with strength and resilience, often symbolizing loyalty and bravery, traits that were highly valued in Scottish society. The name has also been linked to various saints and religious figures, contributing to its enduring presence in Christian contexts.

A diminutive form, "Gray," has also been used historically, although it is less common. Overall, the name Graham carries a rich historical and cultural significance, reflecting its deep roots in the linguistic and social fabric of England and Scotland.

Famous people named Graham

In this section, you will find notable people named Graham. 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 Graham who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Graham 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.

Graham Greene is an author best known for The Power and the Glory, The Heart of the Matter, and Brighton Rock.

Graham Norton is a television presenter and comedian best known for The Graham Norton Show, So Graham Norton, and Graham Norton's Big Adventure.

Graham Chapman is a comedian and actor best known for Monty Python's Flying Circus, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and Life of Brian.

Graham Parker is a musician best known for his albums Heat Treatment, Squeezing Out Sparks, and The Mona Lisa's Sister.

Graham Nash is a musician best known for being a member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and for his work with The Hollies.

Graham Bell is a scientist and inventor best known for inventing the telephone.

Fictional characters named Graham

The following list of fictional characters named Graham 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.

Graham is a fictional character from the video game series The Walking Dead. He is a member of the group of survivors navigating a post-apocalyptic world filled with zombies.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Graham, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

GrantGideonGavinGraysonGarrettGlen

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Graham. 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.

GriffinGalenGideonGarrison

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Graham was first seen in the United States in 1881.

Graham has ranked as high as #214 nationally, which occurred in 2025, and has been most popular in California, Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Graham has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Graham 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 Graham was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

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 Graham.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 2,980 2,967 13
2024 2,809 2,798 11
2023 2,553 2,537 16
2022 2,413 2,401 12
2021 2,391 2,381 10
2020 2,102 2,095 7
2019 2,163 2,156 7
2018 2,180 2,174 6
2017 2,122 2,111 11
2016 2,260 2,247 13
2015 2,388 2,378 10
2014 2,049 2,039 10
2013 1,891 1,883 8
2012 1,724 1,715 9
2011 1,363 1,356 7
2010 1,189 1,189 0
2009 1,328 1,328 0
2008 1,038 1,031 7
2007 803 798 5
2006 649 649 0
2005 670 670 0
2004 623 617 6
2003 662 662 0
2002 625 619 6
2001 636 631 5
2000 618 618 0
1999 598 598 0
1998 606 600 6
1997 559 554 5
1996 577 577 0
1995 639 633 6
1994 590 590 0
1993 673 668 5
1992 571 571 0
1991 629 629 0
1990 591 586 5
1989 499 499 0
1988 488 488 0
1987 476 476 0
1986 564 564 0
1985 528 522 6
1984 517 517 0
1983 531 525 6
1982 474 474 0
1981 448 448 0
1980 451 445 6
1979 366 366 0
1978 298 298 0
1977 249 249 0
1976 248 248 0
1975 233 233 0
1974 187 187 0
1973 175 175 0
1972 194 194 0
1971 205 205 0
1970 175 175 0
1969 161 161 0
1968 116 110 6
1967 106 106 0
1966 103 103 0
1965 88 88 0
1964 99 99 0
1963 114 114 0
1962 108 108 0
1961 111 111 0
1960 94 94 0
1959 111 111 0
1958 107 107 0
1957 96 96 0
1956 96 96 0
1955 81 81 0
1954 92 92 0
1953 92 92 0
1952 93 93 0
1951 106 106 0
1950 97 97 0
1949 101 101 0
1948 93 93 0
1947 112 112 0
1946 100 100 0
1945 78 78 0
1944 99 99 0
1943 93 93 0
1942 100 100 0
1941 101 101 0
1940 86 86 0
1939 86 86 0
1938 112 112 0
1937 102 102 0
1936 95 95 0
1935 116 116 0
1934 110 110 0
1933 100 100 0
1932 113 113 0
1931 100 100 0
1930 102 102 0
1929 106 106 0
1928 117 117 0
1927 94 94 0
1926 101 101 0
1925 95 95 0
1924 90 90 0
1923 117 117 0
1922 105 105 0
1921 129 129 0
1920 108 108 0
1919 93 93 0
1918 85 85 0
1917 92 92 0
1916 109 109 0
1915 103 98 5
1914 68 68 0
1913 53 53 0
1912 48 48 0
1911 28 28 0
1910 26 26 0
1909 19 19 0
1908 18 18 0
1907 17 17 0
1906 12 12 0
1905 12 12 0
1904 12 12 0
1903 13 13 0
1902 8 8 0
1900 15 15 0
1899 5 5 0
1898 10 10 0
1897 7 7 0
1895 14 14 0
1894 12 12 0
1893 6 6 0
1892 13 13 0
1891 7 7 0
1890 5 5 0
1889 7 7 0
1888 8 8 0
1887 9 9 0
1886 7 7 0
1885 5 5 0
1884 6 6 0
1883 7 7 0
1882 7 7 0
1881 5 5 0

Top States for Graham (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 215
8%
OH 159
6%
CA 139
5%
IL 124
4%
MI 116
4%
NC 108
4%
MN 100
4%
IN 94
3%
FL 93
3%
NY 93
3%
MO 91
3%
WI 88
3%
PA 86
3%
UT 83
3%
VA 80
3%
GA 75
3%
TN 72
3%
MA 68
2%
CO 68
2%
MD 55
2%
LA 53
2%
SC 53
2%
KS 51
2%
IA 50
2%
KY 47
2%
AL 47
2%
NJ 46
2%
OK 46
2%
WA 45
2%
OR 43
2%
AZ 32
1%
CT 31
1%
AR 27
1%
ID 24
1%
NE 24
1%
SD 20
1%
MS 18
1%
WV 17
1%
NH 15
1%
ME 14
1%
MT 13
0%
DC 12
0%
ND 11
0%
DE 8
0%
AK 8
0%
RI 8
0%
NV 7
0%