Gram
A Dutch masculine name meaning "great" or "important".
Name Census estimates that about 355 living Americans carry the first name Gram. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Gram today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gram births was 2012 (22 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gram. 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
355
~ 1 in 965,505 Americans
Peak year
2012
22 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,531
Tracked since 1975
Popularity
Gram: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Gram from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 154 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Gram remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gram 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 Gram 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 Gram
The given name Gram finds its origins in ancient Sanskrit, one of the oldest and most influential languages of the Indian subcontinent. Derived from the Sanskrit root "grama," meaning "village" or "community," the name Gram initially signified a person's connection to their local community or settlement.
In ancient Hindu texts, such as the Vedas and the Upanishads, the term "grama" is frequently mentioned, reflecting the importance of village life and social cohesion in the region's cultural fabric. The name Gram, therefore, carried connotations of belonging, unity, and rootedness within a particular locality or group.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gram can be found in the ancient Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, where it is mentioned as the name of a prominent warrior and leader from the Kuru clan. This historical reference suggests that the name was in use during the epic's composition, which is believed to have occurred between the 8th and 4th centuries BCE.
Throughout history, several noteworthy individuals have borne the name Gram. One such figure was Gram Panchayat, a 12th-century Hindu philosopher and scholar renowned for his contributions to the study of Vedanta and Advaita Vedanta philosophy. His writings and teachings had a profound impact on the intellectual discourse of his time.
Another prominent figure was Gram Mukherjee (1844-1912), a pioneering Indian educator and social reformer who played a crucial role in establishing modern education systems in Bengal and advocating for women's education. His efforts paved the way for greater social progress and empowerment in the region.
In the realm of art and literature, Gram Sahib (1879-1957) was a celebrated Punjabi poet and writer whose works explored themes of spirituality, love, and the human condition. His poetry continues to be widely read and appreciated, contributing to the rich cultural heritage of Punjab.
Gram Parsons (1946-1973), an American singer-songwriter, is also remembered for his influential role in the development of country rock and alternative country music genres. His unique blend of musical styles and his untimely death at the age of 26 only added to his enduring legacy in the music world.
While the name Gram may have evolved and taken on different cultural meanings over time, its roots can be traced back to the ancient Sanskrit language and the concept of community and belonging. The individuals mentioned above, spanning various eras and fields, exemplify the diverse and rich history associated with this name.
People
Gram + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gram 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
Gram: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gram?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 355 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gram 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 965,505 US residents.
Is Gram a common name?
We classify Gram as "Very Rare". It ranks above 81% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 360 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gram most popular?
The single biggest year for Gram was 2012, when 22 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gram is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Gram a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gram 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.