Griffen
Griffen was the 5465th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 17 babies. Its best year was 1999, when it ranked 1174th with 110 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 2,285 places. More babies were named Griffen in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Griffin) prince (from Welsh Gruffudd) · Welsh, Irish
- Rank in 2025
- #5,465 boys, down 1,510 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 17boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1999110 babies
- Total since 1880
- 1,808babies recorded
What does the name Griffen mean?
Griffen is a spelling of Griffin, pronounced the same way, so it shares Griffin's meaning and origin.
Griffin comes from Griffinus, a medieval Latin form of the Welsh name Gruffudd (Griffith); Wiktionary and Wikipedia agree. Wikipedia traces Gruffudd to Old Welsh Grippiud and glosses it 'prince'. Wiktionary also notes an Irish surname Griffin, an English form of Ó Gríobhtha. The name looks like griffin, the mythical beast with an eagle's head and a lion's body, and some families choose it with that image in mind.
Gruffudd (Welsh, “Griffith”)Grippiud (Old Welsh, “prince (per Wikipedia)”)
How sure is this? Probable. The Welsh source is clear; the 'prince' gloss of Gruffudd comes from one source.
Related names: Griffith, Gruffudd, Griff, Gryffin.
See also: Welsh names, names that mean king or queen.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Griffin', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Griffin (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Griffen popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5,465 | 17 |
| 2020 | #3,955 | 26 |
| 2010 | #2,178 | 61 |
| 2000 | #1,366 | 93 |
| 1990 | #4,254 | 13 |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Griffen, counting every spelling?
Griffen is a spelling of Griffin, a name family that ranked #225 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #5,465 for Griffen on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,746 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Griffin | 1,627 | #222 | 8,104 |
| Gryffin | 63 | #2,239 | 383 |
| Griffen | 17 | #5,465 | 127 |
| Griffyn | 18 | #5,281 | 115 |
| Gryphon | 21 | #4,762 | 89 |
| Griffon | — | — | 25 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Griffen?
17 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Griffen (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Griffen 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 495 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Griffen.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Griffen?
About 1,800 people born in the US named Griffen are alive today, with a median age of 22; half are between 15 and 27. That makes Griffen mostly worn by children and young adults.
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.
Griffen by state
How common Griffen was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 50 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 Griffen: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Griffen, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Griffen
What does Griffen mean?
Griffen is a spelling of Griffin, which means “prince (from Welsh Gruffudd)” (Welsh, Irish origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Griffen?
Griffen was the 5465th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 17 babies. Its best year was 1999, when it ranked 1174th with 110 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 2,285 places. More babies were named Griffen in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Griffen a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Griffen in the US.
Where is Griffen most popular?
In 2021–2025, Griffen was most common in Minnesota (0.04 per 1,000 boys).