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Home › Baby Names Directory › Craig

Craig

♂ Boy

Pronounced KRAYG /ˈkɹeɪɡ/Medium

Meaning: Crag, rocks, outcropMedium

In 30 seconds: Craig is a Scottish name meaning 'crag' or 'rocky outcrop', taken straight from the landscape.
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Origin MediumScottish, English
MeaningCrag, rocks, outcrop
U.S. rank (2025)#1644 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births102 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1960
Total births (all-time)≈ 299,624

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 196018812025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Drawn from the Scottish word for a crag or rocky outcrop, Craig began as a place and surname before settling in as a first name. It carries the plain, solid feel of the rock it names. Actor Craig T. Nelson and Hall of Fame ballplayer Craig Biggio are well-known bearers.

Its single firm syllable matches its meaning, blunt and rooted, with a distinctly Scottish edge.

Did you know? Craig likely reached first-name use through a surname or place-name route, which gives it that modern borrowed-from-history feel.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Craig — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Craig T. Nelson (1944–present)
    Emmy winner for 'Coach' in 1992.
  • ★Craig Biggio (1965–present)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Craig…

Cove— shares Craig's English roots
Cayde— lands in the same popularity range
Cam— shares Craig's Scottish roots
Coy— a fellow English choice
Chad— shares Craig's English roots

Explore names like Craig

By themeenglishscottishsurname-style

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Craig mean?

Craig is usually explained as meaning 'crag, rocks, outcrop' and is most often linked with Scottish tradition.

How do you pronounce Craig?

It's commonly said KRAYG /ˈkɹeɪɡ/.

Is Craig a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Craig is used as a boy name.

How popular is Craig?

In 2024, Craig ranked #1831 in the U.S. for boys, with 88 births recorded.

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