A variant of Griffin, linked both to Welsh noble-name traditions and the mythical griffin creature.
Griffon is a spirited variant of Griffin, a name with deep Welsh roots. The Welsh Gruffudd — from griff (possibly meaning "strong") and udd ("lord" or "prince") — was a royal name in medieval Wales, borne by Gruffudd ap Llywelyn, the only king to unite all of Wales under a single rule in the eleventh century. The Normans rendered it as Griffon or Griffin when they encountered it, and in that anglicized form it spread across Britain and Ireland, eventually becoming both a common surname and a given name throughout the English-speaking world.
The name is inescapably entangled with the mythological griffin — the magnificent creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, symbolizing strength and vigilance. Used as a heraldic beast in medieval European coats of arms, the griffin represented the combination of the king of beasts and the king of birds, making it a symbol of divine power and guardianship. This association has given the name a fantastical, heroic overtone in popular culture, appearing in video games, fantasy literature, and children's media as a creature of wonder and might.
Griffon, with its final -on rather than the more common -in, carries a slightly more Continental or archaic flavor, reminiscent of French heraldic tradition. It appeals to parents who love the mythological resonance and the Welsh historical weight but want a spelling that stands apart. As nature names and mythology-inspired names have surged in popularity, Griffon has followed Griffin's upward trajectory while maintaining its own more rarefied identity.