Given name & surname
Griffith
“a mighty chief”
Griffith is connected with Gruffudd and Griffudd in Welsh naming traditions.
Original WelshGruffudd
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Welsh interpretation is “a mighty chief.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Welsh.
How it developed
In Welsh use, Griffith is used as a form of Gruffudd. In Welsh use, Griffith is used as a form of Griffudd.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1899. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Griffith through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,550
- 1,550 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1918
- 26 babies
- 2025
- 22
- #4,596 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +3%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 22 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 4,596 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 3.4% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,067 as a first name in 2020; 75,478 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Griffith’s family of names
Griffith has a short form in Griff. Griffith is an English adaptation of Griffudd. Griffith has a related form in Griffyth.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 11
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Griffshort form
- Griffithsvariant · English
- Gryphythvariant
- Gryphithvariant
- Griphithvariant
- Gryffythvariant
- Gryfithvariant
- Griffythvariant
Show 3 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Griffith
- Griffith JonesBritish film, stage and television actor (1909-2007)
- Nathaniel Griffith LerotholiLesotho chief1873–1939
- Griffith JohnWelsh Christian missionary in China1831–1912
- Griffith C. EvansAmerican mathematician (1887-1973)
- Griffith J. GriffithWelsh-born American businessman and philanthropist1850–1919
- Griffith HughesWelsh cleric and naturalist1707–1758
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Griffith, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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