Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Griffen
BoyAmerican (modern coinage), Welsh· “variant of Griffin; strong lord”
- Meaning
- variant of Griffin; strong lord
- Origin
- American (modern coinage), Welsh
- Pronunciation
- GRIF-in
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #5,465
- US babies 2025
- 17
- Best rank
- #1,174 (1999)
- Peak year
- 1999
Meaning and origin of Griffen
Griffen is an American (modern coinage) and Welsh name that is usually said to mean “variant of Griffin; strong lord”.
Griffen is a variant of Griffin, which is used both as an anglicized form of the Welsh Gruffudd, a name whose second part may mean lord, and as the name of the mythical griffin, a creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. The Welsh meaning is uncertain, and strong lord is a common explanation rather than a settled one. The griffin appears widely in medieval heraldry as a symbol of strength and vigilance. The Griffen spelling uses an e in the second syllable. It is said GRIF-in, and Griff is the usual nickname.
Popularity over time
Griffen first appears in US Social Security records in 1985. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,174 in 1999, the same year it reached its highest count of 110 babies. In 2025, 17 babies were named Griffen, and it ranked #5,465 nationally. That is 53% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #1,366 in 2000, #2,178 in 2010, and #5,465 in 2025. Of the 1,808 US boys named Griffen since records began, 42% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 472 babies. Since 2010, 536 more have been named Griffen.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Johnson, Luiz, Jalil, Keshon, and Brevin.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Griffen is usually pronounced GRIF-in, with two syllables. It has seven letters, starts with G and ends in “-en”.
Middle names for Griffen
A few middle names that flow with Griffen: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Griffen
Similar names
Jayden Boy
JAY-duhn
“modern blend of Jay and -den” · American (modern coinage)
#70
Owen Boy
OH-uhn
“possibly well born” · Welsh
#31
Brayden Boy
BRAY-duhn
“modern form of Braden; salmon” · Irish
#229
Ayden Boy
AY-dihn
“little fire” · American (modern coinage)
#257
Kayden Boy
KAY-dihn
“modern coinage related to Caden” · American (modern coinage)
#135
Jaden Boy
JAY-dihn
“modern coinage; possibly from biblical Jadon” · American (modern coinage)
#421
Caden Boy
KAY-dihn
“modern name; possibly from an Irish surname” · American (modern coinage)
#201
Kaden Boy
KAY-dihn
“modern name; possibly from an Irish surname” · American (modern coinage)
#328
Kaiden Boy
KAY-duhn
“modern form of Caden” · American (modern coinage)
#237
Cayden Boy
KAY-duhn
“modern form of Caden” · American (modern coinage)
#414
Zayden Boy
ZAY-duhn
“modern variant of Jayden” · American (modern coinage)
#214
Jaiden Boy
JAY-duhn
“modern blend of Jay and Aiden” · American (modern coinage)
#618
Lists that include Griffen
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Griffen mean?
Griffen is an American (modern coinage) and Welsh name that is usually said to mean “variant of Griffin; strong lord”.
What is the origin of the name Griffen?
Griffen has modern American and Welsh roots. Griffen is a variant of Griffin, which is used both as an anglicized form of the Welsh Gruffudd, a name whose second part may mean lord, and as the name of the mythical griffin, a creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.
Is Griffen a popular name?
Not especially. Griffen ranked #5,465 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Griffen a boy or girl name?
Griffen is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Griffen?
Griffen is usually pronounced GRIF-in. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings