Granite
Strong, enduring material formed from molten rock.
Name Census estimates that about 97 living Americans carry the first name Granite. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Granite today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Granite births was 2016 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Granite. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Granite. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
97
~ 1 in 3,533,550 Americans
Peak year
2016
11 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2022 SSA rank
#10,157
Tracked since 1998
Popularity
Granite: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Granite from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 45 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Granite 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 Granite 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 Granite
The given name Granite has its origins in ancient Greek, where it derives from the word "granitos," meaning "grainy" or "made of small particles." This name is inextricably linked to the igneous rock of the same name, known for its durability and widespread use in construction and sculpture.
The earliest recorded instances of Granite as a personal name can be traced back to the Byzantine Empire, where it was occasionally bestowed upon individuals born into stonemason or quarry worker families. This tradition was likely a reflection of the cultural significance of granite in the region's architectural heritage.
In the Middle Ages, the name Granite gained traction in certain parts of Europe, particularly among communities involved in quarrying or masonry work. It was seen as a symbol of strength and resilience, qualities that were highly valued in these professions.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Granite was a stonemason from the city of Rhodes, who lived in the late 12th century. His name was Granite of Rhodes, and he is credited with contributing to the construction of several notable buildings during his lifetime.
Another notable figure bearing the name Granite was a French sculptor from the 16th century, known as Granite LeSculpteur. He worked on several prominent projects commissioned by the French nobility, including the intricate carvings adorning the Château de Chambord.
In the 18th century, a British geologist and mineralogist named Granite Williamson (1718-1801) made significant contributions to the study of igneous rocks. His work helped establish the scientific understanding of granite's composition and formation processes.
During the 19th century, a Scottish artist named Granite MacLeod (1832-1904) gained recognition for his landscape paintings, which often depicted the rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands and the granite outcroppings that dotted the region.
In more recent times, Granite Smith (1920-2008) was an American civil engineer who played a pivotal role in the construction of several major dams and bridges across the United States, including the Hoover Dam and the Golden Gate Bridge.
While the name Granite has never been widely popular, its unique origins and associations with durability, strength, and artistic expression have ensured its enduring presence throughout history, serving as a testament to the enduring legacy of this remarkable natural material.
People
Granite + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Granite 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
Granite: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Granite?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 97 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Granite 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 3,533,550 US residents.
Is Granite a common name?
We classify Granite as "Very Rare". It ranks above 64.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 98 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Granite most popular?
The single biggest year for Granite was 2016, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Granite is about 16 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Granite a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Granite 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.