Gordon

At a Glance

Meaning

Disputed — either 'muddy hill' or 'great fort'

Origin

Scottish (surname, disputed origin)

Gender

Boy

Pronunciation

GOR-dunListen

Gordon is a Scottish surname turned first name for a boy, with a classic, old-fashioned feel and an outdoorsy, wandering quality to it. You'll often hear it explained as simply meaning "great hill," but that's not quite settled — scholars actually trace it to two different possible roots, either "muddy hill" or "great fort." It's pronounced GOR-dun.

Meaning & Origin of Gordon

Meaning: Disputed — either 'muddy hill' or 'great fort'.

Origin: Scottish (surname, disputed origin).

A common claim: great hill Actually: Widely stated to simply mean 'great hill,' but scholars actually disagree between two different theories — 'muddy hill' (Old English) or 'great fort' (Brittonic) — neither of which literally matches the popular gloss.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Gordon

Popularity of Gordon

Gordon was near its height in 1935, ranking #70 with 2,614 babies given the name that year. By 2024 it had fallen far from that peak, sitting at #1089 with just 199 babies named Gordon, based on Social Security data spanning 1880 to 2024.

Names Like Gordon

These names share Gordon’s style, era or origin.

• Craig
• Arran
• Bruce
• Allan
• Boyd
• Clyde

FAQ

What does the name Gordon mean?

Disputed — either ‘muddy hill’ or ‘great fort’. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Gordon?

Gordon is pronounced GOR-dun (IPA: /ˈɡɔːrdən/).

Is Gordon a popular name right now?

Gordon peaked at #70 in 1935 and is ranked #1089 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Gordon Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Gordon, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.