This post contains affiliate links.
At a Glance: Name: Durham – Meaning: hill island (Old English + Old Norse) – Origin: English (place name, Old English + Old Norse) – Gender: primarily used for boys – Pronunciation: DUR-um
Durham is an English place name built from Old English and Old Norse elements meaning 'hill island.' You might see it described as meaning 'island of hills,' but that's not quite accurate: the underlying words are singular, not plural, and the '-ham'-like ending is a historical sound-change accident rather than a true 'home' element. As a first name, it carries that same grounded, place-rooted feel.
Meaning & Origin of Durham
Meaning: Hill island (Old English + Old Norse).
Origin: English (place name, Old English + Old Norse).
A common claim: Often described as meaning 'island of hills' Actually: The elements are singular ('hill' + 'island/islet'), not plural 'hills,' and the '-ham'-looking ending is a historical sound-change accident, not a genuine 'home' element.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Durham
Phonetic: DUR-um IPA: /ˈdɜːrəm/
Popularity of Durham
Durham hit its highest point in Social Security data in 1924, ranking #2867 with 10 babies given the name; a century later, in 2024, it ranked #7874, also with 10 babies. It's stayed a rare pick across the full 1915-2024 record.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1915–2024.
Make Durham Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Durham, 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 Durham mean?
Hill island (Old English + Old Norse). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Durham)
How do you pronounce Durham?
Durham is pronounced DUR-um (IPA: /ˈdɜːrəm/).
Is Durham a popular name right now?
Durham peaked at #2867 in 1924 and is ranked #7874 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1915–2024.)
📊 How popular is Durham? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
🎲 Think you know your baby names? Take the quiz!
🎨 Get Printable Name Art for Durham
Beautiful nursery-ready 8×10" print with name & meaning
Preview & Download →More Baby Name Inspiration
📱 The Baby Names app is here
Swipe names, match with your partner the moment you both say yes, and claim a free Name Art print of your winner. Free to download. See all our apps →
