The first name Gordon
A boy’s name meaning “mud”, “hill”, “great”.
Pronounced /ˈɡɔrdn̩/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Gordon means “mud”, “hill”, “great”.
The Scottish surname derives from Gordon in Berwickshire. This likely derives from Old English gor (“mud”) + dūn (“hill”), although a Brittonic etymology, from *gor (“great”) + *dīn (“fort”), has also been proposed.
More names that mean mountain.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 3 boys were named Gordon, making it the 5,137th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1997, with 25 births (#661).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Gordon with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Gordon at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 209 boys born in the United States were named Gordon, the 1,052nd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1952, when 2,829 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Nicknames and spellings
Nicknames for Gordon
- Gordie
- Gordy
- Gord
- Gordo
Other spellings and forms
- Gurden
- Gorden
Famous people named Gordon
180 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Gordon BanksEnglish association football player (1937–2019)
- Gordon MooreAmerican businessman, co-founder of Intel Corporation (1929–2023)
- Gordon RamsayBritish chef, restaurateur, and television personality (born 1966)
- Gordon AllportAmerican psychologist (1897–1967)
- Vere Gordon ChildeBritish prehistorian archaeologist (1892–1957)
- Gordon LightfootCanadian singer-songwriter (1938–2023)
- Gordon CooperAmerican astronaut (1927–2004)
- Gordon SchildenfeldCroatian footballer, born 1985
- Gordon MilneEnglish association football footballer and manager, born 1937
- Gordon ParksAmerican photographer, musician, writer and film director (1912–2006)
- Gordon BunshaftAmerican architect (1909–1990)
- Gordon ScottAmerican actor (1926-2007)
Questions
- What does the name Gordon mean?
- Gordon means “mud”, “hill”, “great”.
- How popular is the name Gordon?
- In 2025, 3 boys born in England and Wales were named Gordon, ranking 5,137th. Its peak was 1997, with 25 births.
- What are nicknames for Gordon?
- Common nicknames for Gordon include Gordie, Gordy, Gord, Gordo.
- Is Gordon a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 155,579 US babies named Gordon since 1880 were boys.
- When was Gordon most popular?
- 1952 in the United States, when 2,829 babies were named Gordon, its highest rank at 110th.
- How do you pronounce Gordon?
- Gordon is /ˈɡɔrdn̩/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Gordon?
- Gurden and Gorden.
- Is Gordon also a surname?
- Yes. Gordon is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.