Graeme

Graeme is a masculine given name, chiefly used in Scotland and other English-speaking countries. It is a variant of Graham, derived from the Scottish surname Graham, which itself is of uncertain origin and may be linked to a place name or a personal name. The given-name Graeme came into more common use in the 19th and 20th centuries, reflecting broader patterns of adopting surnames as first names.

In contemporary use, Graeme is recognized primarily as a Scottish version of Graham, though it is found across the English-speaking world. The spelling Graeme is common in the United Kingdom and parts of Canada and Australia, while Graham tends to be more prevalent in the United States.

Notable people with the given name Graeme include: Graeme Souness, a Scottish former footballer and manager; Graeme Dott, a Scottish professional snooker player and world champion; Graeme Le Saux, an English former footballer; Graeme McDowell, a Northern Irish professional golfer; Graeme Smith, a South African cricketer and former captain; Graeme Obree, a Scottish cyclist and two-time world record holder; and Graeme Base, an Australian author-illustrator of children's books. These individuals illustrate the name’s broad reach across sports, arts, and public life.

Overall, Graeme remains a distinctly Scottish-flavored variant of Graham, carried by a number of notable figures and used in various English-speaking regions.