The name Graham is of Scottish origin and means "gravelly homestead" or "gravelly hollow". It is derived from the Middle English word "grav" meaning "rocky" or "gravelly", combined with "-ham", a suffix denoting a homestead or settlement.
The surname Graham can be traced back to the Borderlands of Scotland and England, where it was first recorded in the 13th century. It is believed that the name originally referred to someone who lived near a rocky or gravelly area. Over time, the name spread throughout Scotland and beyond, becoming quite common in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and parts of England.
The name Graham has been borne by several notable figures throughout history. One of the most famous was Sir James Graham, 1st Baronet (1792-1861), a British statesman who served as Home Secretary under Prime Minister Robert Peel. Another prominent figure is Thomas Graham, 1st Baron Lynedoch (1745-1843), a Scottish diplomat and politician who played a significant role in the negotiation of the Convention of London in 1827.
Today, Graham continues to be a popular name throughout the English-speaking world. It has consistently ranked among the top 1000 boy names in the United States since the early 20th century. The name is also associated with several notable figures in modern times, including Graham Norton, an Irish television presenter and comedian, and Graham Greene, a British author known for his works such as "The Power and the Glory" and "Our Man in Havana".
The statistics provided show the number of births given the name "Graham" in the United States annually from 1881 to 2023.
From 1881 to 1974, the number of births with the name Graham fluctuated between a low of 5 births in 1881 and a high of 233 births in 1975. The rate increased steadily from the late 1970s onwards, reaching 668 births in 1993.
The peak period for the name Graham was between 2007 and 2023, with over 1000 births per year recorded each year during this period. In 2013, there were 1883 births, which is the highest number of births recorded in any given year.
Overall, from 1881 to 2023, there have been a total of 55665 births with the name Graham in the United States. This shows that while the popularity of the name Graham has varied over time, it remains a popular choice for parents naming their newborn sons.