Krag
A Scandinavian name derived from the Old Norse word meaning "hook" or "bend".
Name Census estimates that about 18 living Americans carry the first name Krag. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Krag today is around 65 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Krag births was 1961 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Krag. 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 Krag is about 65 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Krags were born before 1971.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Krag. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
18
~ 1 in 19,041,908 Americans
Peak year
1961
6 babies that year
Average age
65
years old
1968 SSA rank
#3,936
Tracked since 1956
Popularity
Krag: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Krag from the 1950s through to the 1960s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 12 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Krag 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 Krag 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 Krag
The given name Krag is of Scandinavian origin, believed to have emerged during the Viking Age between the 8th and 11th centuries. Its roots can be traced back to the Old Norse word "kragr," which means "neck" or "collar." The name likely originated as a descriptive moniker, perhaps referring to a person's physical appearance or stature.
In ancient Norse mythology, there are references to a figure known as "Kragr" or "Kragi," who is mentioned in the Poetic Edda, a collection of Old Norse poems compiled in the 13th century. This figure is associated with wisdom, strength, and bravery, suggesting that the name may have carried connotations of these qualities.
One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the name Krag was Krag Pedersen, a Danish nobleman who lived in the 13th century. He was a prominent figure in the court of King Eric IV of Denmark and played a significant role in the political affairs of his time.
Another notable bearer of the name was Krag Eriksen, a Norwegian explorer and navigator from the 15th century. He is credited with leading several expeditions to Greenland and the Arctic regions, contributing to the expansion of geographical knowledge during the Age of Exploration.
In the 16th century, Krag Christensen was a Danish theologian and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of the Bible and the Reformation movement. He was known for his translations of biblical texts and his involvement in the Danish Lutheran Church.
During the 17th century, Krag Jørgensen was a Danish military officer who fought in the Thirty Years' War. He gained recognition for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield, and his exploits were celebrated in contemporary accounts of the war.
Krag Olsen, a Norwegian craftsman and master woodworker from the 18th century, is renowned for his exquisite woodcarvings and furniture designs. His works are highly prized and can be found in museums and private collections around the world.
While the name Krag has its roots in Scandinavia, it has been adopted and used in other parts of the world over the centuries. However, its historical significance and associations with the Viking Age and Norse culture remain an integral part of its legacy.
People
Krag + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Krag as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Krag: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Krag?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 18 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Krag 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 19,041,908 US residents.
Is Krag a common name?
We classify Krag as "Very Rare". It ranks above 38.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 22 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Krag most popular?
The single biggest year for Krag was 1961, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Krag is about 65 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 Krag in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Krag a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Krag 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 Krag still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Krag 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 Krag 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 Krag as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans are named Krag on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.