Find out how popular the first name Gordon has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Gordon by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Gordon is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Gordon being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 222 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Gordon.

The history of the first name Gordon

The name Gordon has its origins in the medieval era and is believed to have derived from the Old English word "gord," which means "enclosed area" or "valley." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a valley or a protected area.

The earliest recorded use of the name Gordon dates back to the 12th century in Scotland, where it was used as a surname. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir Adam de Gordon, a Scottish knight who lived in the late 12th and early 13th centuries.

In the 13th century, the name Gordon became associated with the powerful Gordon family, who held lands in Scotland and played a significant role in Scottish history. The family's prominence helped to popularize the name throughout the country.

The name Gordon has been borne by several notable figures throughout history. One of the most famous was George Gordon, Lord Byron, the renowned English poet and leading figure of the Romantic movement. He was born in 1788 and died in 1824.

Another notable bearer of the name was Charles George Gordon, a British army officer and administrator who served in the Crimean War and the Second Opium War. He is best known for his role in the Siege of Khartoum, where he was killed in 1885 while defending the city against Sudanese forces.

In the realm of sports, Gordon Banks was an English footballer and one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. He played for England's national team and was part of the squad that won the 1966 World Cup. Gordon Banks was born in 1937 and passed away in 2019.

Gordon Ramsay, the renowned British chef and television personality, was born in 1966. He is known for his fiery temper and his successful restaurants, as well as his numerous television shows, including "Hell's Kitchen" and "MasterChef."

Finally, Gordon Parks, born in 1912 and died in 2006, was an influential American photographer, filmmaker, and writer. He is best known for his powerful photographic work documenting poverty, racism, and social injustice in the United States during the mid-20th century.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Gordon was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Gordon, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!