Craig

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ORIGIN AND HISTORY

The name Craig traces back to the Gaelic word creag, which was a term for a rocky cliff.^[1] The English word "crag" comes from the same root.^[1]

Craig was first used as a surname in Scotland. It was a topographic surname, given to people who lived near a rocky hill or cliff known as a creag.^[1] Usage as a first name mostly began in the 20th century.^[1]

POPULARITY

Though Craig was occasionally used as a first name in the late 19th century, it really began to gain prominence as a baby boy's name in the 1910s. Popularity rose through the early 20th century, and Craig broke into the top 100 list in 1947. It was a top 50 name between the years 1964 and 1988, reaching its pinnacle as the 39th most popular name to give to baby boys in 1969 and 1970. Popularity then began a gradual decline, but Craig is still a relatively popular choice. In 2007, Craig ranked as the 539th most popular boy's name in the United States.

In the last decade, Craig has been a popular name in Scotland. In 1998 and 1999, Craig ranked as the 18th most popular name for baby boys.^[1] Popularity has slowly decreased, but Craig is still a top 100 name in Scotland. In 2007, Craig ranked at number 71.^[1]

Craig is a popular name in Ireland. In recent years, it ranked most highly as the 40th most popular name for boys in 2001.^[1] In 2005, it ranked as the 89th most popular.^[1]

Craig is a top 500 name in Canada and Australia. In 1999, Craig was the 149th most popular choice for baby boys, and in 1997, Craig ranked as the 172nd most popular boy's name in Canada.^[1]

According to WhitePages.com, Craig is the 277th most common surname in the United States. The highest concentration of people with the surname Craig is in Texas, followed by California, Florida and Pennsylvania.^[1]

FACTS

• There were more than 2600 people with the surname Craig who fought in the U.S. Civil War. 1700 fought on the Union side, while 900 fought on the Confederate side.^[1]

NAMESAKES

• Craigslist: an online mostly free local billboard serving more than 550 cities. It was started in 1995 by Craig Newmark and is now one of the top 10 busiest English-language Websites.
• Jenny Craig: weight-loss program
• Craig's Cruisers: Family Fun Centers, Michigan
• Craig Hospital, Denver, Colorado
• Craig's Wife: 1928 film
• Harriet Craig: 1950 film starring Joan Crawford
• Foolish Craig's Cafe, Boulder, Colorado
• Places
  • Craig, Alaska
  • Craig, Colorado
  • Craig, Indiana
  • Craig, Iowa
  • Craig, Missouri
  • Craig, Nebraska
  • Craig County, Virginia
  • Ailsa Craig, Scotland

FAMOUS PERSONS

• Craig Bierko: actor (born August 18, 1964)
• Craig Biggio: baseball player, Houston Astros (born December 14, 1965)
• Craig Darby: hockey player (born September 26, 1972)
• Craig David: R&B singer (born May 5, 1981)
• Craig Ehlo: basketball player (born August 11, 1961)
• Craig Ferguson: actor, comedian (born May 17, 1962)
• Craig Macintosh: cartoonist
• Craig T. Nelson: actor (born April 4, 1944)
• Craig Newmark: internet entrepreneur, founder of Craigslist (born December 6, 1952)
• Craig Parker: actor (born November 12, 1970)
• Craig Raine: poet (born December 3, 1944)
• Craig Saavedra: writer and film producer (born November 2, 1963)

• Amanda Craig: novelist (born 1959)
• Daniel Craig: actor (born March 2, 1968)
• Mikey Craig: musician (born February 15, 1960)
• Philip Craig: author (born December 10, 1933)
• William Lane Craig: philosopher (born August 23, 1949)
• Yvonne Craig: actress (born May 16, 1937)

Author: Sarena Ulibarri

NOTES