Graham

Graham - A unique male name

Graham appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #521. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Graham and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Graham? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Graham. The baby boy name Graham was given to 2,958 baby boys in 2025, ranking #120 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 496 baby boys were given this name - making this a unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Graham peaked in popularity 1 years ago in 2025 on position 120.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Graham, 1-5?

Graham is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Graham is currently topping the baby name charts in South Dakota at position #33 - and is the least popular in New Mexico at position #387.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Graham is where you live.

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Graham origin and meaning

English and Scottish — transferred surname, from a place name

'Gravelly homestead' — from the place name Grantham elements, granta + ham

Graham was a Scottish and English surname taken from places named for a gravelly homestead. It has been a steady given name in the US since 1910 and is now at its highest point ever, rising from #184 in 2020 to #120 in 2025. The Scottish spelling Graeme is a close cousin.

Attested etymology

Graham is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Graham, pop culture references for the name Graham and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Graham

We've found the following names that sound similar to Graham, sorted by popularity.

German / Geronimo / Graeme / Germaine / Green / Gurney / Garren / Geremy / Germain / Garin /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Graham

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Graham a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Graham?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

GRAY-um · /ˈɡreɪəm/
Most Americans say two syllables, GRAY-um, but many compress it to one syllable, GRAM.

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Graeme — The Scottish spelling

Nicknames: Gray

Famous bearers

• Graham Greene — English novelist, Brighton Rock and The Quiet American (1904–1991) Historical
• Graham Nash — Singer-songwriter with The Hollies and Crosby, Stills & Nash (b. 1942) Contemporary
• Graham Norton — Irish broadcaster and chat-show host (b. 1963) Contemporary

Style

SurnameClassic

Why parents choose it

Graham feels buttoned-up but warm — a tailored name that has quietly climbed to its US peak. Parents like that it needs no nickname and ages well.

Worth knowing

• One- vs two-syllable pronunciation varies by family and region
• Often misspelled Grahm or Greham