Govan
Govan is a district, parish, and former burgh now part of southwest Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated 2+1⁄2 miles west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick. Historically it was part of the County of Lanark.
Meaning & Origin of Govan
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Govan is a district, parish, and former burgh now part of southwest Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated 2+1⁄2 miles west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick. Historically it was part of the County of Lanark.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Govan
Govan first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1916, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1919, when 6 Govans were born — ranking #3,736 that year. As of 2026, Govan ranks #3,776 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 27 Govans have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Govan
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- See also: Category:People from Govan Mary Barbour , resident in Govan while helping to organise the Glasgow Rent Strikes
- Isabella Elder , philanthropist who gifted Elder Park and Elder Park Library [ de ] to the people of Govan, as well as many other projects.
- Hugh Binning child genius, professor of philosophy and minister of Govan
- Leo Blair (senior) , father of former Prime Minister Tony Blair and high court judge Sir William Blair , raised on Golspie Street
- Ivor Cutler avant garde performer
- Sir Alex Ferguson , football manager and player widely known for managing Manchester United from 1986 to 2013 (won more trophies than any other manager, considered one of the greatest of all time)
- James Hedderwick , poet and newspaper proprietor, born and raised in Govan.
- Jimmy Speirs , footballer (scored the winning goal in the 1911 FA Cup Final, received the Military Medal during the First World War)
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Govan
Phonetically similar names — useful when Govan is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Govan
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About the name Govan
Govan is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1916 and has accumulated 27 births in the dataset. Govan's peak popularity came in 1919 when it ranked #3,736. Use the chart and map above to compare Govan's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1919 →
- Names of the 1910s →
- Names starting with "G" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.