Creig
Scottish form of Craig, meaning rock or rocky hill.
Name Census estimates that about 312 living Americans carry the first name Creig. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Creig today is around 60 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Creig births was 1961 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Creig. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
312
~ 1 in 1,098,572 Americans
Peak year
1961
18 babies that year
Average age
60
years old
1996 SSA rank
#9,273
Tracked since 1942
Popularity
Creig: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Creig from the 1940s through to the 1990s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 116 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Creig by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Creig during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Creig
The given name Creig has its roots in the Gaelic language, tracing back to the Celtic tribes of ancient Britain and Ireland. It is derived from the Old Irish word "creag," which means "rock" or "crag." This name was likely bestowed upon individuals who lived near rocky terrains or displayed a strong, steadfast character reminiscent of a sturdy rock formation.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Creig can be found in the Annals of Ulster, an ancient chronicle detailing events in medieval Ireland. In this text, a warrior named Creig mac Lochlainn is mentioned as having participated in battles against Viking invaders in the 9th century AD.
In the 12th century, a Scottish nobleman named Creig de Strathearn was a prominent figure in the court of King David I of Scotland. He is recorded as having played a crucial role in the negotiations that led to the Treaty of Falaise in 1174, which established peace between Scotland and England.
During the Scottish Wars of Independence in the late 13th and early 14th centuries, a valiant soldier named Creig Douglas fought alongside William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. His bravery in battles against the English earned him recognition in the epic poem "The Brus," written by John Barbour in the 14th century.
In the 16th century, an Irish poet and historian named Creig Ó Ceallaigh gained renown for his works chronicling the history of the O'Kelly clan. His poetry and writings shed light on the rich cultural heritage of Gaelic Ireland during a turbulent period.
In more recent history, Creig Neville was a British army officer who served with distinction during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century. He was awarded the prestigious Order of the Bath for his valor in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
While the name Creig may not have been as widely popular as some other names, it has a rich history rooted in the Celtic cultures of Britain and Ireland. Its connection to the natural world and associations with strength and resilience have made it a name worthy of recognition throughout the ages.
People
Creig + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Creig as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Creig: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Creig?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 312 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Creig going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,098,572 US residents.
Is Creig a common name?
We classify Creig as "Very Rare". It ranks above 79.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 381 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Creig most popular?
The single biggest year for Creig was 1961, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Creig is about 60 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Creig a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Creig in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.