Craig
Craig was the 1644th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 102 babies. Its best year was 1969, when it ranked 39th; the most babies were born in 1960 (10,724). Over the last ten years it has moved down 734 places. More babies were named Craig in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Meaning rock, crag · Scottish Gaelic
Say it KRAYG /kɹeɪɡ/
- Rank in 2025
- #1,644 boys, down 399 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 102boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 196010,724 babies
- Total since 1880
- 300,628babies recorded
What does the name Craig mean?
Craig is a Scottish surname from Gaelic creag 'rock, crag', first a name for someone who lived near a crag, as Wiktionary notes; the English word crag comes from the same Celtic source. It became a popular boys' name in the US in the 1960s. A well-known bearer is the actor Daniel Craig, whose surname it is.
creag (Scottish Gaelic, “rock, crag”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Pronunciation: Scottish speakers often say KREG.
Related names: Kraig, Craigie.
See also: Scottish names, names that mean meadow, hill or valley.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Craig', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Wiktionary, entry 'creag' (Scottish Gaelic section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
Craig popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 1,012 since 1918.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,644 | 102 |
| 2020 | #1,245 | 149 |
| 2010 | #664 | 362 |
| 2000 | #340 | 808 |
| 1990 | #117 | 2,907 |
| 1980 | #73 | 4,234 |
| 1970 | #39 | 9,364 |
| 1960 | #41 | 10,724 |
| 1950 | #69 | 4,888 |
| 1940 | #285 | 384 |
| 1930 | #585 | 105 |
| 1920 | #746 | 77 |
| 1910 | #1,224 | 8 |
| 1900 | #918 | 9 |
| 1890 | #823 | 7 |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Craig, counting every spelling?
Craig has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #1,538 for boys in 2025, against #1,644 on the official list.
How many kids will share the name Craig?
102 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Craig (0.03 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Craig born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 82 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Craig.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Craig?
About 237,100 people born in the US named Craig are alive today, with a median age of 57; half are between 46 and 66. That makes Craig a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Craig by state
How common Craig was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 37 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Craig: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Craig, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Craig · Sibling names for Craig
Questions about the name Craig
What does Craig mean?
Craig means “rock, crag” (Scottish Gaelic origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Craig?
Craig was the 1644th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 102 babies. Its best year was 1969, when it ranked 39th; the most babies were born in 1960 (10,724). Over the last ten years it has moved down 734 places. More babies were named Craig in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Is Craig a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Craig in the US.
Where is Craig most popular?
In 2021–2025, Craig was most common in Louisiana (0.16 per 1,000 boys), followed by Pennsylvania and New York.