Total births
1,080
Boys' name · since 1886
Grafton
Since 1886, U.S. Social Security records show 1,080 babies named Grafton, peaking in 1916. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #8334
- among boys today
- 1,080
- born since 1886
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 42%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Grafton is the #8334 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 1,080 recorded since 1886.
Grafton has 1,080 recorded births among boys since 1886, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #8334 as of the latest data, more common than 42% of boys, busiest in the 1920s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1886 to 2025.
- #8334 among boys today
- 1,080 born since 1886
- 1920s peak decade
- 42% more common than other boys
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Grafton is currently the #8334 boys' name in America, more common than 42% of boys - 1,080 born since 1886, peaking in the 1920s.
- #8334
- among boys today
- 1,080
- born since 1886
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 42%
- more common than other boys
Grafton vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#8334
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 42% of names given to boys today.
1920s
Peak decade
13% of everyone ever named Grafton was born in this single decade.
1916
Single peak year
25 babies were named Grafton in 1916 - its busiest year on record.
How Grafton compares
1,080 Top 29% higher than 71% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Grafton's all-time total is 194% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Grafton | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,080 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 25 | 23 | 22,252 |
Grafton's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Grafton's SSA record in two at 1959 and the more recent half accounts for 42% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 58%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1886, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1916 peak of 25, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Grafton at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1916
Current rank
#8,334
Active since
1886
Grafton popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1886–2025
- Peak year (1916)
- 25
- Annual births at peak, across 140 years of records
Grafton by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Grafton's strongest decade.
145 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 13% of all-time use.
Grafton births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 5
1880s
5 births
- 1890s 12
1890s
12 births
- 1900s 5
1900s
5 births
- 1910s
1910s
130 births
- 1920s
1920s
145 births
- 1930s
1930s
99 births
- 1940s
1940s
126 births
- 1950s
1950s
114 births
- 1960s 41
1960s
41 births
- 1970s 23
1970s
23 births
- 1980s 42
1980s
42 births
- 1990s 50
1990s
50 births
- 2000s
2000s
106 births
- 2010s
2010s
128 births
- 2020s 54
2020s
54 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 145 births (13% of all-time use).
How Grafton compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Grafton's total volume
Grafton vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Grafton by state
Where Grafton concentrates geographically, total births since 1886
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Grafton? ▼
1,080 babies have been named Grafton since 1886. It currently ranks #8334 among boys. The peak year was 1916 with 25 births.
When was Grafton most popular? ▼
Grafton was most popular in the 1920s decade with 145 total births. The single peak year was 1916.
Where is Grafton most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Grafton are Maryland (6 births), Alabama (5 births).
How long has the name Grafton been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Grafton since 1886 -- 140 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Grafton? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Grant, Grayson, Graham, Grady, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Grafton's data
- Grafton's usage has stayed within range of its 1920s decade-level peak (145 total births) through the 2020s (54) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Maryland records the most Graftons (6 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Maryland names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Grafton
Nearby Names Like Grafton
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Grafton
Grant Boy
#241 136,462 births
Grayson Boy
#48 128,994 births
Graham Boy
#129 61,436 births
Grady Boy
#372 52,474 births
Granville Boy
#12350 5,501 births
Compare Grafton side by side: Grafton vs Grant Grafton vs Grayson Grafton vs Graham
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Grafton
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1886–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Grafton: #8334 Boys' Name - 1,080 Births, Peak 1916." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/grafton. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Grafton draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.