Gordon

“Possibly spacious fort, origin disputed” — Brythonic (uncertain) origin

Boy's name · #1052 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Few names move less than Gordon — on the books since 1880, #1052 in 2025, and dependable in between. Roughly 155,000 boys share it. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records. Gordy is a short form of Gordon. Earlier generations knew Gordie — the standard of the 1930s.

Around the world: about 1 in 2,600 boys in Canada (2024) · about 1 in 6,500 boys in Scotland (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 22 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Gordons

Gordon Brown — Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2007 to 2010
Gordon Banks — English association football player (1937–2019)
Gordon Moore — American businessman, co-founder of Intel Corporation (1929–2023)
Gordon Ramsay — British chef, restaurateur, and television personality (born 1966)
Gordon Allport — American psychologist (1897–1967)

In stories & tradition

Gordon Freeman — Half-Life · Half-Life: Opposing Force
Gordon Gekko — Wall Street · Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
Gordon the Big Engine — Thomas & Friends · The Railway Series

What Gordons become

Among 2,662 notable people named Gordon:

Sports figures appear 1.34× more often than among typical names — e.g. Gordon Banks, English association football player (1937–2019).

Similar names: Allan · Golden · Frankie · Don · Melvin · Alvin

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Service