A masculine surname name whose sound and style factor are as high as they get on the trendy potential chart, Griffin is the name I’m going to be analyzing this week. Edgy with a heavy dose of strength in his undeniably slick and effortlessly cool sound and appearance, Griffin is definitely a boy name that many parents are contemplating for their little boy. However, some may worry that Griffin is just too restricted to a surname. So is Griffin too last name, or does he have the perfect quantity of surname style to thrive in the modern world? Today, we’re going to be getting the scoop on Griffin, including his origin, meaning, nicknames, and potential popularity in the future. Dear readers, let’s begin!
Pros
Flemming might be taking things a tad too far. And Crawford is a whole lot. But Griffin? He’s barely a surname name compared to those. Surnames are very stylish for baby boys today, and Griffin just squeaks by when it comes to what surnames are acceptable as first names. I’ve never met anyone with the last name Griffin, but I have met one little boy called Griffin. In my mind, Griffin is much more of a first name than a surname, and to me, he strikes the chord of a surname-style first name rather than a last name exclusively. Add in how incredibly stylish names like Jackson and Hudson are right now, and you’ve got a real winner. Griffin’s obvious surname origins are really a reason for parents to flock to him for a stylish name for their upcoming little one, not to turn away. In addition, Griffin has some fantastic nicknames. He’s only a brief two syllables, so it is by no means necessary to bestow a short form upon your son, nor will strangers default to one like they would to a name like Alexander or William. However, in the case that you do wish to call your Griffin something just ever-so slightly shorter, you’ve got a couple trendy options to choose from. There’s the intuitive Griff, which takes the unique first syllable of Griffin and converts it to an endearing short form. Or there’s the fiery hot trendy Finn which plays on the second syllable of Griffin and gives the harsh Gr- sound a sweeter and cuter nickname if you feel as if the strength of Griffin doesn’t really fit your son quite yet.
But even though Griffin has many stylish aspects that fit with modern trends wonderfully, he’s not any quickly shifting fad of phase. Griffin has deep roots as a Welsh surname deriving from, funnily enough, a given name. A name popular among Welsh royalty, Gruffudd began to evolve into pet names like Griffith and Griffin, which then morphed into a surname. And Griffin is incredibly consistent as well. Although his sound lends to popularity and a chart that darts up and down furiously, that is simply not the case. Here’s a fact: in the year 2000, Griffin ranked at #232. In 2019, almost two entire decades later? He sat at #233. That is absolutely remarkable. If we take a larger scope, say, twenty five years, there’s only 62 spots between Griffin’s high point and low point. I don’t know about you, but to me, that’s insane. Griffin is by far the most consistent baby name I’ve ever seen while doing research for a name profile, although many would label him as a solely modern fad. Finally, despite this positive reason to go for Griffin is a tad silly, there’s the mythological creature with the name. Part lion, part eagle, and all heroic and protective, Gryphons or Griffins tend to have a lot of positive characteristics, helping with the associations people may have with this name.
Cons
The television series Family Guy features a family called the Griffin family, both further perpetuating the idea of Griffin being restricted to a family surname as opposed to a given name for your little boy and potentially dominating the associations people have when they encounter your child. There is, of course, the potential for loads of Family Guy jokes and references upon an introduction, as there is with any name that has a strong tie to a certain fandom. There’s also the Harry Potter Hogwarts House Gryffindor, which also might be an association that people may have. While the overall traits of members of this house are positive, the references and jokes could possibly annoy you or your child. Those issues are very minor, but the thing I most disliked about Griffin when I first heard him is his resemblance to the word gruff and how his sounds are a little...well, gruff! The Griff- sound isn’t a common one in the current baby naming climate, and it closely resembles the word gruff, which isn’t very positive. I’m picturing a stingy old man who has a very hoarse voice and acts similarly to that guy on Up! in the beginning (And not the cute part with his wife). Not necessarily the image I’d like to have in mind when I go to give a name to a child. Anyway, it doesn’t just sound like the word gruff. The harsh sounds that contradict the softer ones we’re into today do wind up sounding a little cold and husky.
Predictions For Griffin:
If you’d just handed me the name Griffin, I would reply instantly that he will only rise from here. But looking at this remarkably consistent popularity chart, I hesitate to come to such a hasty conclusion. Honestly, after further examination of the percentages of babies called Griffin instead of just the numbers (it’s kind of like inflation, but the opposite) I think that Griffin will start to fall. Believe it or not, Griffin peaked in 1998, although not by much, so I’m not expecting some monstrous and monumental leap from him anytime soon. I personally don’t care for Griffin, as his sound is very harsh and “cool boy,” a vibe that I very weirdly do not like whatsoever. I prefer my boy names on the nerdier side, such as Clement, Theodore, Reuben, and Dexter, so Griffin is simply not my style. I can see the mountains of positive aspects, though, so I definitely would recommend using him if it’s a name you love! Feel free to share your opinions on what Griffin’s fate will be, and have a lovely rest of your day, dear readers!
Sincerely,
-Delphina Moon