Kraig
A boy's name of Scottish Gaelic origin with 5,951 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Kraig sits in the vintage zone of American naming: first recorded in 1939, peaking in 1968, with 5,951 total births across its history.
The sharp, distinct quality of its ending — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close — keeps the name compact and easy to pair with longer middle names or surnames.
Kraig is not in the current top 1,000 boy names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Kraig is a boy's baby name of Scottish Gaelic origin, a variant spelling of Craig, derived from the Scottish Gaelic creag, meaning 'rock, rocky outcrop.' The K-spelling was a mid-20th century American stylistic choice to give the name a more distinctive look.
Kraig carries the same rugged, geological strength as Craig — solid, immovable, and dependably Scottish in its roots — with a slightly more individualized written identity.
EtymologyShow more
Though Kraig dates back to 1939 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded. The Scottish Gaelic classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.
Kraig’s 5,951 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by hundreds of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Kraig has 80+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1939.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 6 | #11377 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 70 | #9361 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 200 | #4693 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 680 | #1587 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 1,059 | #899 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 1,245 | #774 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 1,845 | #574 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 707 | #945 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 132 | #2559 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 7 | #2990 | — |
The Story of Kraig
A Gen X name
Peaking in 1968, Kraig is a Gen X staple. Boys named Kraig are most likely born between 1958 and 1978.
How rare is Kraig?
Kraig has 5,951 recorded births in the U.S. — a well-established name with deep roots.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1939, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1960s with 1,845 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Kraig by the numbers
- Would fill 124 school buses
- Meeting one Kraig per day would take 16.3 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(80 years, 1939–2020)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 6 | #11377 |
| 2019 | 8 | #9373 |
| 2018 | 6 | #11555 |
| 2017 | 7 | #10302 |
| 2016 | 8 | #9336 |
| 2014 | 5 | #13186 |
| 2012 | 13 | #6512 |
| 2011 | 14 | #6121 |
| 2010 | 9 | #8500 |
| 2009 | 14 | #6296 |
| 2008 | 11 | #7491 |
| 2007 | 16 | #5574 |
| 2006 | 21 | #4441 |
| 2005 | 18 | #4746 |
| 2004 | 22 | #4080 |
| 2003 | 23 | #3793 |
| 2002 | 26 | #3412 |
| 2001 | 20 | #4053 |
| 2000 | 29 | #3041 |
| 1999 | 38 | #2382 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kraig a boy's or girl's name?
When was Kraig most popular?
How popular is the name Kraig?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1939–2020