Cranston
A boy's name of Old English origin with 364 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A locality and parish in Midlothian council area, Scotland.
Cranston is a boy's baby name of Old English origin, from the Scottish place name meaning 'farm by the cranes' — combining the Old Norse trani (crane) and the Old English tun (farm, settlement), evoking the graceful wading birds of northern landscapes.
Cranston has the patrician, slightly eccentric quality of old Anglo-Scottish place-name surnames. In popular culture it's the surname of the original Green Hornet and of Walter White's actor Bryan Cranston — lending it a layered, contemporary cultural resonance.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Cranston is a boy's name with over a century of recorded use (1917–2010). Its Old English roots connect it to a broader naming tradition, but in practice, American usage often reshapes names — adding nicknames, shifting pronunciation, and building new associations that diverge from the original cultural context.
With 364 total births, Cranston exists at the edges of the American naming landscape — a name known primarily to the families who carry it, giving it an intensely personal character.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Cranston has 49+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1917.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 11 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 25 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 36 | — |
| 1970s | 36 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 63 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 83 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 65 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 26 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 14 | — |
The Story of Cranston
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1958, Cranston is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Boys named Cranston are most likely born between 1948 and 1968.
How rare is Cranston?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Cranston is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1917, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1950s with 83 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Cranston by the numbers
- Would fill 8 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(49 years, 1917–2010)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 5 | #12617 |
| 2004 | 6 | #10214 |
| 2003 | 5 | #11217 |
| 1993 | 7 | #6952 |
| 1991 | 6 | #7451 |
| 1990 | 12 | #4453 |
| 1989 | 5 | #8124 |
| 1987 | 7 | #5603 |
| 1986 | 7 | #5446 |
| 1985 | 5 | #6731 |
| 1982 | 5 | #6555 |
| 1981 | 7 | #5043 |
| 1979 | 7 | #4936 |
| 1976 | 8 | #4077 |
| 1975 | 7 | #4399 |
| 1974 | 7 | #4266 |
| 1973 | 7 | #4145 |
| 1969 | 5 | #4510 |
| 1968 | 5 | #4242 |
| 1966 | 5 | #4051 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cranston a boy's or girl's name?
When was Cranston most popular?
How popular is the name Cranston?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1917–2010