Craig

Pronunciation: [ kr-AYG ]

Boy Name #1,840 Most Popular Hidden Gem 1 Syllable

A grounded Scottish name meaning solid as a rock

Scottish Welsh British American Australian

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Meaning & Origin

"rocky cliff, crag"

Origin: Scottish Gaelic (creag)

Language: English

"rocky outcropping, cliff dweller"

Origin: Welsh (graig)

Language: Welsh

Things to Know About This Name

Craig is associated with the 'Craig meme' (a plain, generic man stereotype in internet culture); minor association

The Story of Craig

Craig comes directly from the Scottish Gaelic 'creag,' meaning a rock or rocky cliff — a word still used in Scottish English today for a crag or cliff face. It began as a surname for people who lived near rocky outcroppings, a common feature of the Scottish Highlands. As a given name it spread widely through the 20th century across English-speaking countries.

Craig peaked in popularity in English-speaking countries during the 1960s-1980s, particularly in Scotland, Australia, and North America. It is now considered a classic 'dad name' in millennial parlance, but carries a grounded, masculine charm.

In Scottish culture, Craig is deeply rooted in the landscape itself — the crags and cliffs of the Highlands. In American culture, Craig has been associated with reliability and straightforwardness.

Fun Facts

'Crag' (from the same Gaelic root as Craig) remains in common English use to describe jagged cliff faces
Daniel Craig is the longest-serving James Bond actor, giving the name renewed cool factor in the 2000s-2010s

Craig in Other Languages

Welsh Graig

French Craig

German Craig

Scottish Gaelic Creag

Famous People Named Craig

Craig David

Musician

1981

British R&B singer-songwriter who broke through with 'Fill Me In' and remains a UK pop institution

Daniel Craig

Actor

1968

British actor who played James Bond from 2006-2021, redefining the character with psychological depth

Craig Ferguson

Entertainer

1962

Scottish-American comedian and former host of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

Quick Facts

Gender: Boy
Syllables: 1
Popularity Rank: #1,840
Total SSA Count: 88
Cultural Origins: Scottish Welsh British American Australian
Pronunciation: Easy
Formality: Moderate
Cross-Cultural Ease: High

Nicknames

Cra Cry Craie

Pairs Well With

Craig James Craig Lee Craig Anthony Craig Michael Craig Thomas Craig David Craig Patrick

Sibling Names

Scott Debra Kevin Donna Duncan Fiona Angus

Also a Girl Name

Craig is also used as a girl name, ranked #68545.

View Craig as a girl name →

Similar Names

May Rae Faye Fred Jay Jake Clarke Bradford

Playground Safety

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Frequently Asked Questions About Craig

What does the name Craig mean?

"rocky cliff, crag" (from Scottish Gaelic (creag)). "rocky outcropping, cliff dweller" (from Welsh (graig)). Craig comes directly from the Scottish Gaelic 'creag,' meaning a rock or rocky cliff — a word still used in Scottish English today for a crag or cliff face. It began as a surname for people who lived near rocky outcroppings, a common feature of the Scottish Highlands. As a given name it spread widely through the 20th century across English-speaking countries.

What is the origin of the name Craig?

Craig has Scottish Gaelic (creag), Welsh (graig), Scottish, Welsh, British, American, and Australian origins. In Scottish Gaelic (creag), it means "rocky cliff, crag". In Welsh (graig), it means "rocky outcropping, cliff dweller".

Is Craig a boy or girl name?

Craig is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #1840. As a girl name, it is ranked #68545. Craig is more commonly used as a boy name.

How do you pronounce Craig?

Craig is pronounced kr-AYG.

How popular is the name Craig?

Craig is currently ranked #1840 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Craig?

Common nicknames for Craig include Cra, Cry, and Craie.

What are good middle names for Craig?

Popular middle name pairings include Craig James, Craig Lee, Craig Anthony, Craig Michael, Craig Thomas, Craig David, and Craig Patrick.

What are good sibling names for Craig?

Names that pair well with Craig as siblings include Scott, Debra, Kevin, Donna, Duncan, Fiona, and Angus.

How many syllables does Craig have?

Craig has 1 syllable, making it easy to say and remember.

Is Craig a common or rare name?

Craig is an uncommon name, ranked #1840 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.

About the Name Craig

Craig is a boy name with Scottish, Welsh, British, American, and Australian origins . The name means "rocky cliff, crag" in Scottish Gaelic (creag) .

Is Craig a boy or girl name? Craig is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #1,840 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #68,545. Craig is more commonly used as a boy name.

Craig is currently ranked #1,840 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

The name Craig has 1 syllable and is pronounced kr-AYG, making it easy to pronounce and remember.

Common nicknames for Craig include Cra, Cry, and Craie. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.