Gryffen
A mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.
Name Census estimates that about 12 living Americans carry the first name Gryffen. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Gryffen today is around 18 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gryffen births was 2008 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gryffen. 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 Gryffen. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
12
~ 1 in 28,562,862 Americans
Peak year
2008
7 babies that year
Average age
18
years old
2008 SSA rank
#10,247
Tracked since 2007
Popularity
Gryffen: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Gryffen 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 Gryffen during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12 | 0 | 12 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Gryffen
The given name Gryffen has its origins rooted in the Welsh language and culture. It is believed to be derived from the Welsh words "gryff" meaning "strong" or "powerful" and "yn" which means "the." The name can be interpreted to mean "the mighty one" or "the strong one."
In ancient Welsh mythology, there are references to a mythical creature known as the "Gryffyn," which was a legendary beast with the body of a lion and the wings of an eagle. This creature was often depicted as a symbol of strength, courage, and power. It is possible that the name Gryffen was inspired by this mythological creature, reflecting the desired traits of strength and bravery for those bestowed with this name.
The earliest recorded use of the name Gryffen dates back to the 12th century in Wales. During this time, it was primarily used by Welsh nobility and aristocratic families as a way to honor their heritage and cultural roots.
One of the earliest notable figures with the name Gryffen was Gryffen ap Rhys (c. 1150-1201), a Welsh prince and military leader who played a significant role in the conflicts between the Welsh and the Norman invaders. He was known for his bravery and strategic military skills, which may have contributed to the association of the name with strength and power.
Another historical figure named Gryffen was Sir Gryffen Vaughan (c. 1575-1639), a Welsh lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament in England during the reign of King James I. He was renowned for his legal expertise and his advocacy for Welsh rights and interests.
In the literary world, Gryffen Jones (1683-1761) was a Welsh poet and writer who gained recognition for his contributions to Welsh literature and his efforts in preserving the Welsh language and culture.
Moving forward in history, Gryffen Rhys Williams (1859-1905) was a Welsh journalist and author who wrote extensively about Welsh history and culture. His works played a significant role in promoting and preserving Welsh identity and traditions.
Finally, Gryffen Wyn (1901-1981) was a Welsh actor and playwright who gained fame for his performances in various Welsh language productions. He was widely regarded as a prominent figure in the Welsh cultural revival movement of the 20th century.
While the name Gryffen has its roots in Welsh culture and history, it has since gained popularity and recognition across various regions and cultures, with individuals bearing this name contributing to various fields and disciplines throughout the ages.
People
Gryffen + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gryffen 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
Gryffen: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gryffen?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 12 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gryffen 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 28,562,862 US residents.
Is Gryffen a common name?
We classify Gryffen as "Very Rare". It ranks above 32.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gryffen most popular?
The single biggest year for Gryffen was 2008, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gryffen is about 18 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 Gryffen in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Gryffen a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gryffen 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 Gryffen still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Gryffen 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 Gryffen 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 Americans are named Gryffen?
Want to know how many people have the name Gryffen? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.