Griffith Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: GRIF-ith /ˈɡrɪfɪθ/
Origin: Welsh; English
Meaning: Welsh: strong chief; English: fierce
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Griffith has its roots in the Welsh language, derived from the Old Welsh name "Grippiud," which is believed to mean "strong chief" or "fierce lord." The name evolved through various forms, including the Latinized version "Grifinus" and the Old French "Griffin," before entering the English lexicon. The transition into English occurred during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when many Welsh names were adapted into the Anglo-Norman culture, leading to the modern form "Griffith." Historically, the name Griffith is associated with several notable figures in Welsh history, including Griffith ap Cynan, a 12th-century king of Gwynedd, who played a significant role in the struggle for Welsh independence against Norman incursions.
The name also appears in various medieval texts and genealogies, reflecting its importance in Welsh heritage. Additionally, the name is linked to the legendary figure of King Arthur, as some traditions suggest that Griffith was one of his knights, further embedding the name within the tapestry of Welsh folklore.
Culturally, Griffith has been embraced as a symbol of strength and leadership, resonating with the ideals of nobility and valor in Welsh tradition. The name has also been associated with various saints, including Saint Griffith, a lesser-known figure in early Christian Wales, which adds a layer of religious significance.
The diminutive form "Griff" has also emerged, although it is less commonly used in historical texts. Overall, Griffith embodies a rich historical legacy, reflecting the intertwining of language, culture, and identity in Wales.
Famous people named Griffith
In this section, you will find notable people named Griffith. 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 Griffith who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Griffith 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.
Griffith Jones is an actor best known for The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Last of Mrs. Cheyney, and The Man in the White Suit.
Griffith Park is a notable public park in Los Angeles, California, known for its hiking trails, observatory, and the Hollywood Sign.
Fictional characters named Griffith
The following list of fictional characters named Griffith 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.
Griffith is a fictional character from the manga and anime series Berserk. He is the charismatic leader of the Band of the Hawk and plays a pivotal role in the story's themes of ambition and betrayal.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Griffith, 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 Griffith. 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 Griffith was first seen in the United States in 1899.
Griffith has ranked as high as #847 nationally, which occurred in 1918, and has been most popular in Pennsylvania, and California.
In the past 5 years the name Griffith has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Griffith 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 Griffith was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Griffith (1997)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 7 |
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 Griffith.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 19 |
| 2023 | 16 |
| 2022 | 13 |
| 2021 | 22 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2019 | 15 |
| 2018 | 23 |
| 2017 | 25 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2013 | 15 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2011 | 18 |
| 2010 | 18 |
| 2009 | 15 |
| 2008 | 14 |
| 2007 | 14 |
| 2006 | 18 |
| 2005 | 23 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2002 | 18 |
| 2001 | 19 |
| 2000 | 17 |
| 1999 | 24 |
| 1998 | 23 |
| 1997 | 14 |
| 1996 | 26 |
| 1995 | 19 |
| 1994 | 16 |
| 1993 | 25 |
| 1992 | 20 |
| 1991 | 15 |
| 1990 | 20 |
| 1989 | 10 |
| 1988 | 12 |
| 1987 | 18 |
| 1986 | 17 |
| 1985 | 14 |
| 1984 | 6 |
| 1983 | 8 |
| 1982 | 6 |
| 1981 | 11 |
| 1980 | 15 |
| 1979 | 14 |
| 1978 | 13 |
| 1977 | 6 |
| 1976 | 5 |
| 1975 | 8 |
| 1974 | 10 |
| 1973 | 10 |
| 1971 | 9 |
| 1970 | 6 |
| 1969 | 7 |
| 1968 | 16 |
| 1966 | 7 |
| 1965 | 13 |
| 1964 | 18 |
| 1963 | 15 |
| 1962 | 21 |
| 1961 | 9 |
| 1960 | 11 |
| 1959 | 13 |
| 1958 | 8 |
| 1957 | 14 |
| 1956 | 15 |
| 1955 | 18 |
| 1954 | 8 |
| 1953 | 14 |
| 1952 | 19 |
| 1951 | 15 |
| 1950 | 12 |
| 1949 | 10 |
| 1948 | 12 |
| 1947 | 17 |
| 1946 | 11 |
| 1945 | 9 |
| 1944 | 5 |
| 1943 | 22 |
| 1942 | 15 |
| 1941 | 9 |
| 1940 | 15 |
| 1938 | 12 |
| 1937 | 13 |
| 1936 | 14 |
| 1935 | 6 |
| 1934 | 11 |
| 1933 | 9 |
| 1932 | 13 |
| 1931 | 5 |
| 1930 | 7 |
| 1929 | 12 |
| 1928 | 9 |
| 1927 | 11 |
| 1926 | 16 |
| 1925 | 17 |
| 1924 | 17 |
| 1923 | 15 |
| 1922 | 25 |
| 1921 | 14 |
| 1920 | 12 |
| 1919 | 10 |
| 1918 | 26 |
| 1917 | 17 |
| 1916 | 13 |
| 1915 | 14 |
| 1914 | 8 |
| 1912 | 7 |
| 1899 | 7 |