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At a Glance: Name: Griffin – Origin: Welsh – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: GRIF-in
Griffin (pronounced GRIF-in) traces back to Wales, arriving in English through the Latinized form "Griffinus" from the Welsh name Gruffudd. You may have heard it means "strong in faith," or that it's tied to the mythical creature that's part lion, part eagle — neither holds up, since the name's deeper root meaning isn't confirmed and it has no real link to that legendary beast despite the shared spelling. What is clear is the Welsh line it comes from, even without a tidy definition to go with it.
Meaning & Origin of Griffin
Origin: Welsh.
A common claim: Griffin is widely said to mean 'strong in faith,' and is often assumed to be tied to the mythical griffin creature (part lion, part eagle). Actually: Neither claim holds up. The name traces to Welsh Gruffudd by way of the Latinized form Griffinus, though its deeper root meaning isn't known — and it's etymologically unrelated to the mythological griffin despite the spelling resemblance.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Griffin
Phonetic: GRIF-in IPA: /ˈɡrɪfɪn/
Popularity of Griffin
Griffin has held a steady spot for boys, peaking at #214 in 2023 with 1,726 babies given the name, then easing slightly to #223 in 2024 with 1,609.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1881–2024.
Make Griffin Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Griffin, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Griffin mean?
Griffin is widely said to mean ‘strong in faith,’ and is often assumed to be tied to the mythical griffin creature (part lion, part eagle). Neither claim holds up. The name traces to Welsh Gruffudd by way of the Latinized form Griffinus, though its deeper root meaning isn’t known — and it’s etymologically unrelated to the mythological griffin despite the spelling resemblance.
How do you pronounce Griffin?
Griffin is pronounced GRIF-in (IPA: /ˈɡrɪfɪn/).
Is Griffin a popular name right now?
Griffin is near its all-time peak (#214 in 2023), ranked #223 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1881–2024.)
📊 How popular is Griffin? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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