Griffin

/ˈɡɹɪf.ɪn/

The name Griffin has 2 intertwined origins.

US Rank

No. 223

Births

1,609

Peak Year

2023

The first is Welsh, as an anglicization of the Welsh personal name Gruffydd, from elements thought to mean “strong lord” or “ruddy prince.” The second is the mythological, from the Latin gryphus and Greek gryps (γρύψ), denoting the legendary creature

with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.

What the name Griffin means

Both strands converged in medieval English usage, where Griffin became a surname and, later, a first name.

The mythical griffin appears in the art of ancient Egypt, Persia, and Greece, and by the Middle Ages had become a heraldic symbol of courage and vigilance, guarding treasure and defending the righteous.

The creature appears in Dante’s Purgatorio (completed 1320), where a griffin pulls the chariot bearing Beatrice, symbolizing the dual nature of Christ as divine and human.

The Welsh prince Gruffydd ap Llywelyn (died 1063) briefly united all of Wales under his rule and resisted Anglo-Saxon encroachment, making him a national hero. His grandson Gruffydd ap Cynan (c.

1055-1137) founded the royal House of Aberffraw. The name also appears in American history through Ohio governor William Griffin and countless bearers across the English-speaking world.

As a first name in the modern United States, Griffin entered the Social Security Administration top 1000 in 1983 and has climbed steadily, reaching inside the top 250 by the 2010s.

Its rise reflects a broader trend toward surname-style boys’ names with strong consonant endings, including Mason, Grayson, and Harrison. The name is most popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Contemporary bearers include American actor Griffin Dunne, comedian Kathy Griffin (as a surname), and English rugby player Griffin Colby.

The name also appears in children’s literature as Griffin Bing, protagonist of Gordon Korman’s Swindle series (2008).