Declining since 2013, #3,949 for boys today.
Popularity of Graeme since 1933
Babies named Graeme per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1930s | 17 |
| 1940s | 11 |
| 1950s | 39 |
| 1960s | 61 |
| 1970s | 132 |
| 1980s | 238 |
| 1990s | 402 |
| 2000s | 466 |
| 2010s | 1,285 |
| 2020s | 225 |
Meaning & origin
Graeme is a Scottish given name derived from the surname Graham, ultimately from the place name Grantham. It has been in use in the United States since at least 1933, though it remains uncommon. As of 2025, it ranked 3,949th, with only 1 in 63,262 baby boys receiving the name that year. Graeme reached its peak popularity in 2012, but has since been on a declining trajectory, falling in use from 2013 onward. Despite its rarity, Graeme retains a strong Scottish heritage association, often chosen by families with Scottish roots or those seeking a refined, classic-sounding alternative to the more common Graham.
Graeme is a transferred use of the Scottish surname Graham, which itself derives from the place name Grantham in Lincolnshire, England. The place name is composed of Old English elements 'grān' (gravel) and 'hām' (homestead, village) or 'hamm' (enclosure, river meadow), thus meaning "gravelly homestead." As a first name, Graeme emerged in Scotland and has been used primarily in English-speaking countries, particularly Scotland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, since the early 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Gray, Graham
Sibling names for Graeme
Names that share Graeme's style, for a brother or sister.
