Gorham
A masculine name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from an Old English place name.
Name Census estimates that about 2 living Americans carry the first name Gorham. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Gorham today is around 71 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gorham births was 1938 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gorham. 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.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Gorham is about 71 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Gorhams were born before 1965.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Gorham. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
2
~ 1 in 171,377,169 Americans
Peak year
1938
5 babies that year
Average age
71
years old
1938 SSA rank
#3,729
Tracked since 1938
Popularity
Gorham: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Gorham 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 Gorham during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Gorham
The name Gorham is an English surname that has its origins in the Old English language. It is derived from the words "gor" meaning "mud" or "dirt," and "ham" meaning "homestead" or "village." Therefore, the name Gorham originally referred to a settlement or homestead located on muddy or marshy ground.
The earliest known record of the name Gorham dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Goreham." This suggests that the name was already in use during the 11th century in England. It is believed that the name originated in the county of Somerset, where there is a town called Gorham.
In terms of historical references, the name Gorham does not appear to have been prominently featured in ancient texts, religious scriptures, or significant historical records. However, there have been several notable individuals throughout history who bore this first name.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Gorham was Sir Ferdinando Gorges (1565-1647), an English military leader and colonial entrepreneur who played a significant role in the early colonization of North America. He was granted a charter for the Province of Maine in 1639.
Another notable figure was Gorham Munson (1737-1804), an American Revolutionary War soldier who served as a captain in the Continental Army. He was present at the Battles of Saratoga and Monmouth, and later became a surveyor and landowner in New York State.
In the 19th century, Gorham Deane Abbott (1807-1874) was an American clergyman and author who served as a minister in several Congregational churches in Massachusetts. He wrote several books and publications, including a memoir of his life.
Gorham Parks (1805-1892) was an American lawyer and politician from Maine. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1847 to 1849.
In the field of science, Gorham Munson (1834-1896) was an American chemist and inventor who patented several processes related to the manufacturing of paper and pulp.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the first name Gorham. While not a common name, it has been present in various contexts, particularly in England and the United States, for several centuries.
People
Gorham + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gorham as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with G
Other first names starting with G with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Gorham: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gorham?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gorham 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 171,377,169 US residents.
Is Gorham a common name?
We classify Gorham as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gorham most popular?
The single biggest year for Gorham was 1938, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gorham is about 71 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Gorham in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Gorham a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gorham 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.
Is Gorham still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Gorham in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Gorham can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Gorham?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.