Declining since 2011, #3,757 for boys today.
Popularity of Creighton since 1906
Babies named Creighton per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2007, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Creighton's real moment was 1909.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 12 |
| 1910s | 115 |
| 1920s | 225 |
| 1930s | 169 |
| 1940s | 245 |
| 1950s | 259 |
| 1960s | 215 |
| 1970s | 359 |
| 1980s | 376 |
| 1990s | 420 |
| 2000s | 622 |
| 2010s | 534 |
| 2020s | 213 |
Meaning & origin
Creighton first entered U.S. records in 1906 and peaked in popularity in 1909, during the height of the trend for using surnames as given names. After declining for decades, it saw a modest revival beginning in the 2000s. In 2025, the name ranked 3,757th, with about 1 in every 58,899 male births. Its trajectory has been falling since 2011. Creighton was most common in Missouri, which has a strong connection to the surname due to notable families and institutions. Though never a top-tier name, it has maintained steady usage among those seeking a distinctively Irish surname choice with a strong, classic sound.
Creighton is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac Craith, meaning 'son of Craith.' The original Gaelic personal name Craith is of uncertain meaning, possibly 'rocky' or 'hill.' Historically, the Mac Craith sept was centered in County Sligo. The surname became established as a given name primarily in the United States and Canada, often used in honor of family surnames.
Where Creighton is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Crey, Crey
Variants: Crichton, Craighton
Sibling names for Creighton
Names that share Creighton's style, for a brother or sister.
