Graham
The surname derives from Gra(nt)ham, the name of a place in Lincolnshire, from Old English *grand (“gravel”) + hām (“homestead”).
Every Graham since 1881 — 61,671 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Graham
Graham is moderately common for boys in the United States, ranked #120 in 2025 with 2,967 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1881, 61,671 American babies have been named Graham. Its peak came in 2025, when 2,980 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Graham stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Graham year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | #8,034 | 2,967 | #120 |
| 2024 | 11 | #9,141 | 2,798 | #129 |
| 2023 | 16 | #7,046 | 2,537 | #141 |
| 2022 | 12 | #8,718 | 2,401 | #155 |
| 2021 | 10 | #9,817 | 2,381 | #161 |
| 2020 | 7 | #12,615 | 2,095 | #186 |
| 2019 | 7 | #12,915 | 2,156 | #180 |
| 2018 | 6 | #14,432 | 2,174 | #182 |
| 2017 | 11 | #9,542 | 2,111 | #185 |
| 2016 | 13 | #8,565 | 2,247 | #179 |
| 2015 | 10 | #10,391 | 2,378 | #176 |
| 2014 | 10 | #10,424 | 2,039 | #199 |
| 2013 | 8 | #12,399 | 1,883 | #203 |
| 2012 | 9 | #11,600 | 1,715 | #215 |
| 2011 | 7 | #13,858 | 1,356 | #256 |
| 2010 | — | — | 1,189 | #284 |
| 2009 | — | — | 1,328 | #263 |
| 2008 | 7 | #14,363 | 1,031 | #322 |
| 2007 | 5 | #18,599 | 798 | #382 |
| 2006 | — | — | 649 | #430 |
| 2005 | — | — | 670 | #408 |
| 2004 | 6 | #14,791 | 617 | #423 |
| 2003 | — | — | 662 | #396 |
| 2002 | 6 | #14,203 | 619 | #408 |
| 2001 | 5 | #16,206 | 631 | #398 |
| 2000 | — | — | 618 | #405 |
| 1995 | 6 | #12,299 | 633 | #375 |
| 1990 | 5 | #13,732 | 586 | #396 |
| 1985 | 6 | #9,716 | 522 | #353 |
| 1980 | 6 | #9,484 | 445 | #385 |
| 1975 | — | — | 233 | #527 |
| 1970 | — | — | 175 | #613 |
| 1965 | — | — | 88 | #791 |
| 1960 | — | — | 94 | #792 |
| 1955 | — | — | 81 | #814 |
| 1950 | — | — | 97 | #697 |
| 1945 | — | — | 78 | #686 |
| 1940 | — | — | 86 | #649 |
| 1935 | — | — | 116 | #538 |
| 1930 | — | — | 102 | #607 |
| 1925 | — | — | 95 | #657 |
| 1920 | — | — | 108 | #606 |
| 1915 | 5 | #4,556 | 98 | #572 |
| 1910 | — | — | 26 | #559 |
| 1905 | — | — | 12 | #721 |
| 1900 | — | — | 15 | #658 |
| 1895 | — | — | 14 | #567 |
| 1890 | — | — | 5 | #1,060 |
| 1885 | — | — | 5 | #997 |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Graham
- Graham Greene Writer · 1904–1991
- Graham Greene Actor · b. 1952
- Graham Bonnet Singer · b. 1947
- Graham Sutherland Painter · 1903–1980
- Graham Nash Singer · b. 1942
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Graham mean?
The surname derives from Gra(nt)ham, the name of a place in Lincolnshire, from Old English *grand (“gravel”) + hām (“homestead”).
How popular is the name Graham in 2025?
Graham ranked #120 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 2,967 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Graham?
61,671 babies have been named Graham in the United States since 1881, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Graham most popular?
Graham peaked in 2025, when 2,980 newborns received the name.
Is Graham a boy or girl name?
Graham is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Graham rising or falling?
Graham is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Graham?
Well-known people named Graham include Graham Greene (writer), Graham Greene (actor), Graham Bonnet (singer).