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Graham
Pronounced GRAY-um /ˈɡreɪ.əm/High
Meaning: A Scottish surname — from the Old English, 'the gravelly homestead/grey home' (originally the place Grantham); overwhelmingly a boys' name, recorded here for a girl; we note the surnameLow
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
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
Graham is a Scottish surname — from the Old English, 'the gravelly homestead/grey home' (originally the place Grantham; we note the surname). Overwhelmingly a boys' name, it is recorded here for a girl — which we flag honestly (slug distinguished; said 'GRAY-um').
In the U.S. it is almost entirely a boys' name; this girls' use is very unusual. Rare for a girl, the-gravelly-homestead at the root, and crisp.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Graham mean?
Graham is a Scottish surname — 'the gravelly homestead'. It is overwhelmingly a boys' name; here it is recorded for a girl.
How do you pronounce Graham?
It's said GRAY-um /re.m/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Graham a boy or girl name?
Graham is overwhelmingly a boys' name; this page covers its rare use as a girl's name.
How popular is Graham?
Graham is common for boys but extremely rare for girls.