Griffin
Meaning
surname form of Griffith; also the mythological creature
Goes by Griff
The story
Griffin is two inheritances wearing one name. It is the anglicized surname of Gruffudd, borne by Welsh princes for centuries, and it is also the mythological creature, eagle in front, lion behind, guardian of treasures. American parents mostly ignored both until recently: under 400 a decade through the 1970s, then about 1,400 in the 1980s, 8,100 in the 1990s, a five-fold decade, then 14,700, then 16,300 in the 2010s, with 9,700 so far this decade. No single cause is on record for the 1990s turn, and we decline to invent one; the name simply sits where two strong currents cross, the two-syllable surname wave and the fantasy shelf. In our records it goes to boys about 51,000 to 760. Griff is the established short form, as our nickname records note. The creature guarded gold; the name guards its own double pedigree.
Popularity, 1890–2024
Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Griffin peaked in the 2010s and the 2020s in nearly equal measure.
When you meet Griffin
Most people given the name Griffin in the United States are children or teenagers today. The name belongs to this generation.
Estimated from US Social Security birth registrations and typical lifespans; a rough guide, not a rule.
The Griffin deep dive
Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Griffin truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Griffin fits with your family’s names and surname.
Keep exploring
Names like Griffin · Nicknames for Griffin · Middle names for Griffin · Strong names
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