Gordon
Gordon is a Scottish surname turned first name, derived from a place name meaning 'great hill' or 'spacious fort.' It has strong Scottish clan heritage and carries a dignified, traditional appeal.
Current Popularity
#1052 for boys
in the United States (2025)
Popularity over time
Good to Know
- •Easy to spell and pronounce across most English-speaking countries
- •Strong Scottish heritage makes it popular in Scotland and Canada
- •Has a vintage feel that's ripe for revival among traditional names
- •The nickname 'Gordy' offers a friendly, approachable alternative
Similar Names
Famous People
Gordon Ramsay
Celebrity chef and television personality
Gordon Lightfoot
Singer-songwriter
Gordon Parks
Photographer and filmmaker
Gordon Freeman
Fictional physicist from video game Half-Life
Statistics
154,909
Total births since 1880
1952
Peak year
Discovery
Keep browsing
Rising now
Browse trending names
Names that climbed the most between 2020 and 2025.
Always popular
Explore timeless classics
Names that have sat in the top 50 for decades.
For this gender
See all-time favorites
The most common names since 1880, by total births.
Stories
Read famous-name profiles
How well-known people changed the names they carried.
Guides
Browse recent articles
Recent articles on naming trends.