Fun Facts About the Name Garrison
- More than 8 thousand babies named Garrison: U.S. records list 8,512 babies given the name Garrison from 1880 through 2025. Even 5 girls received the name Garrison - about 1 girl for every 1,701 boys.
What Does the Name Garrison Mean?
Garrison is an English surname that is also used as a given name. Its meaning is usually explained in one of two ways. The first treats it as a patronymic, "son of Garrett": Garrett was a medieval form of the Germanic names Gerard or Gerald, and the ending -son was added to it. The second derives it from the Middle English noun garrison, borrowed from Old French garnison, meaning "protection, defense, or provision" (from garnir, "to furnish or defend"), a word used for troops stationed in a stronghold; a surname formed from it would describe someone who served at or lived near such a post. Because the two explanations are not fully reconciled, the safest statement is that the name is either patronymic or occupational in origin.
Garrison Name History & Origins
Garrison took shape in medieval England as a hereditary family name, during the period when English surnames were becoming fixed. As a given name it is a much later development and appears mainly in the United States.
The surname's best-known American bearer, the abolitionist and newspaper editor William Lloyd Garrison (1805 - 1879), carried Garrison as a family name rather than a first name. As a first name, Garrison is uncommon; the writer and radio host Garrison Keillor (born 1942) is a modern bearer, having changed his first name from Gary.
How Popular is the Name Garrison?
Garrison recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1999. Its best rank was #566 in 1999.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | #14,242 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,757 | 92 | 0.0054% |
| 2024 | #1,790 | 91 | 0.0053% |
| 2023 | #1,632 | 106 | 0.0062% |
| 2022 | #1,383 | 135 | 0.0077% |
| 2021 | #1,274 | 149 | 0.0085% |
| 2020 | #1,299 | 139 | 0.0081% |
| 2019 | #1,128 | 173 | 0.0096% |
| 2018 | #1,240 | 149 | 0.0082% |
| 2017 | #1,131 | 169 | 0.0091% |
| 2016 | #1,139 | 170 | 0.0090% |
| 2015 | #1,039 | 193 | 0.0101% |
| 2014 | #999 | 206 | 0.0107% |
| 2013 | #952 | 210 | 0.0111% |
| 2012 | #990 | 201 | 0.0106% |
| 2011 | #1,175 | 151 | 0.0080% |
| 2010 | #1,045 | 185 | 0.0096% |
| 2009 | #958 | 210 | 0.0106% |
| 2008 | #1,025 | 187 | 0.0092% |
| 2007 | #892 | 225 | 0.0108% |
| 2006 | #898 | 217 | 0.0106% |
| 2005 | #822 | 229 | 0.0115% |
| 2004 | #739 | 253 | 0.0127% |
| 2003 | #679 | 286 | 0.0145% |
| 2002 | #661 | 283 | 0.0146% |
| 2001 | #703 | 254 | 0.0131% |
| 2000 | #668 | 268 | 0.0136% |
| 1999 | #566 | 353 | 0.0184% |
| 1998 | #652 | 268 | 0.0140% |
| 1997 | #777 | 192 | 0.0102% |
| 1996 | #753 | 199 | 0.0105% |
| 1995 | #817 | 172 | 0.0090% |
| 1994 | #774 | 186 | 0.0096% |
| 1993 | #678 | 229 | 0.0117% |
| 1992 | #893 | 140 | 0.0070% |
| 1991 | #868 | 147 | 0.0073% |
| 1990 | #967 | 117 | 0.0057% |
| 1989 | #979 | 109 | 0.0054% |
| 1988 | #901 | 113 | 0.0059% |
| 1987 | #1,098 | 77 | 0.0041% |
| 1986 | #941 | 95 | 0.0052% |
| 1985 | #1,323 | 53 | 0.0029% |
| 1984 | #1,304 | 51 | 0.0028% |
| 1983 | #1,697 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 1982 | #1,575 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 1981 | #1,709 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 1980 | #1,742 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1979 | #1,686 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 1978 | #1,935 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 1977 | #2,029 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 1976 | #2,073 | 23 | 0.0015% |
| 1975 | #2,483 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1974 | #2,391 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1973 | #1,711 | 27 | 0.0017% |
| 1972 | #1,699 | 27 | 0.0017% |
| 1971 | #1,883 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1970 | #1,722 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1969 | #1,308 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 1968 | #1,556 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1967 | #1,728 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1966 | #4,153 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1965 | #2,867 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1964 | #1,866 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1963 | #2,144 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1962 | #2,068 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1961 | #2,604 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1960 | #2,943 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1959 | #2,460 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1958 | #2,562 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1957 | #1,768 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1956 | #1,965 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1955 | #1,924 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1954 | #1,419 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1953 | #1,607 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1952 | #1,498 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1951 | #2,288 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1950 | #2,250 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1949 | #2,058 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1948 | #1,844 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1947 | #2,742 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1946 | #2,776 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1945 | #2,169 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1944 | #1,597 | 19 | 0.0014% |
| 1943 | #2,220 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1942 | #2,079 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1940 | #3,249 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1939 | #2,689 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1938 | #3,300 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1937 | #2,562 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1936 | #1,991 | 13 | 0.0013% |
| 1935 | #2,439 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1934 | #2,319 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1932 | #2,378 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1931 | #3,986 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1930 | #2,665 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1929 | #2,661 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1928 | #2,560 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1926 | #2,994 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1925 | #2,489 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1924 | #3,631 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1923 | #2,500 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1922 | #3,651 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1921 | #2,872 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1920 | #2,844 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1919 | #2,753 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1918 | #2,447 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1917 | #2,620 | 10 | 0.0011% |
| 1916 | #4,144 | 5 | 0.0006% |
| 1915 | #4,049 | 5 | 0.0006% |
| 1914 | #2,755 | 7 | 0.0011% |
| 1913 | #2,156 | 8 | 0.0016% |
| 1912 | #2,380 | 6 | 0.0014% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Garrison Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are introspective, prophetic, philosophical, and soul searching, but also can be analytical, critical and opinionated. You think deeply and clearly, have an air of mystery, can be solitary and secretive. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Garrison's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Garrison's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.