Griffin
Boy name · English · Greek · Latin · Welsh
Meaningstrong lord · Welsh
- US rank
- #222
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #214 in 2023
1,627 babies were named Griffin in the US in 2025. It has climbed 19 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1881–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Griffin you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Griffin
Griffin Dunne
American actor, film director and film producer (born 1955)
Choose Griffin and your child shares a first name with Griffin Dunne, an American actor, film director and film producer. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Griffin, like who?” Griffin Dunne's Wikipedia article is available in 34 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Griffin Dunne on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 1,050 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Griffin, 1,627 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Griffin would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryGriffin first shows up in US birth records in 1881, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 144 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 2023, when it reached #214.
- Where it's lovedGriffin is most popular in New Hampshire, where it ranks #46, followed by Maine (#61) and Vermont (#64). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- MeaningIn Welsh, Griffin means “strong lord”. Our records link it to English, Greek and Latin roots.
About the name Griffin
Griffin is a boy name of English, Greek and Latin origin meaning “strong lord”. It has 7 letters and 2 syllables, starting with G and ending in “-fin”. US birth records list Griffin for boys from 1881 to 2025, in 137 of those 145 years. Its best year was 2023, when it ranked #214 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #222, with 1,627 babies.
Origin:English namesGreek namesLatin namesWelsh names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 36 | 27,795 boys |
| 1890s | 35 | 28,539 boys |
| 1900s | 47 | 21,169 boys |
| 1910s | 30 | 33,704 boys |
| 1920s | 20 | 49,603 boys |
| 1930s | 14 | 70,621 boys |
| 1940s | 12 | 83,542 boys |
| 1950s | 9.0 | 111,111 boys |
| 1960s | 8.4 | 118,906 boys |
| 1970s | 22 | 44,843 boys |
| 1980s | 72 | 13,926 boys |
| 1990s | 413 | 2,419 boys |
| 2000s | 730 | 1,370 boys |
| 2010s | 854 | 1,171 boys |
| 2020s | 926 | 1,080 boys |
Other spellings of Griffin
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Griffin
What does the name Griffin mean?
Griffin means “strong lord” in Welsh.
What is the origin of the name Griffin?
Griffin has English, Greek, Latin, Welsh roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Griffin a boy or girl name?
Griffin is a boy name, though a few girls get it too.
How popular is the name Griffin?
Griffin ranked #222 for US boys in 2025, given to 1,627 babies. Its best year was 2023 (#214).