Graham
Graham: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɡɹæm/ · /ˈɡɹeɪ.əm/
Meaning and origin of Graham
Root meaning: “gravel”
- A male given name transferred from the surname.
Etymology
The surname derives from Gra(nt)ham, the name of a place in Lincolnshire, from Old English *grand (“gravel”) + hām (“homestead”).
How popular is Graham?
Since 1880, 235 girls and 61,436 boys in the U.S. have been named Graham (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #4556 in 1915. Its highest rank for boys was #120 in 2025. In 2025 it ranked #120 for boys, with 2,980 babies given the name.
Names similar to Graham
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Surname boy names
Sibling name ideas for Graham
Sister and brother names that share Graham's Surname roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Graham FAQ
What does the name Graham mean?
Graham traces back to a root meaning "gravel". A male given name transferred from the surname. The surname derives from Gra(nt)ham, the name of a place in Lincolnshire, from Old English *grand (“gravel”) + hām (“homestead”).
What is the origin of the name Graham?
Graham is listed as a name of Surname (transferred from a surname) origin.
How popular is the name Graham?
Since 1880, 235 girls and 61,436 boys in the U.S. have been named Graham (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #4556 in 1915. Its highest rank for boys was #120 in 2025. In 2025 it ranked #120 for boys, with 2,980 babies given the name.
Is Graham a boy or girl name?
Graham is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 235 girls and 61,436 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.