Holding steady.
Popularity of Cranston since 1917
Babies named Cranston per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1990, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Cranston's real moment was 1942.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 14 |
| 1920s | 26 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 65 |
| 1950s | 83 |
| 1960s | 63 |
| 1970s | 36 |
| 1980s | 36 |
| 1990s | 25 |
| 2000s | 11 |
| 2010s | 5 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Cranston is an English surname-turned-given name that has never entered the mainstream. First recorded as a given name in 1917, it saw a modest peak in 1942 but has remained rare ever since, with no rank in recent years. The name's trajectory has been stable but low, and it has not been recorded in any top state lists. Its similarity to more fashionable surnames like Preston or Langston may appeal to parents seeking a distinctive heritage name, but Cranston has not experienced a revival. The name remains a niche choice, largely associated with its surname roots rather than any significant popularity.
Cranston is an English surname transferred to given name use. It likely derives from a place name composed of Old English 'cran' (crane) and 'tūn' (enclosure, settlement). The name has been used as a given name since the early 20th century, particularly in the United States, but has never been common.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Cran, Ston
Sibling names for Cranston
Names that share Cranston's style, for a brother or sister.
