Fun Facts About the Name Greg
- More than 77 thousand babies named Greg: U.S. records list 77,856 babies given the name Greg from 1880 through 2025. Even 143 girls received the name Greg - about 1 girl for every 543 boys.
What Does the Name Greg Mean?
Greg is an English short form of Gregory and carries the meaning "watchful" or "alert." Gregory comes from Latin Gregorius, which was borrowed from Greek Grēgorios (Γρηγόριος). The Greek name is usually explained as coming from grēgoros, "watchful, vigilant," a word related to grēgoreō, "to watch, keep awake," and ultimately to egeirō, "to awaken."
The literal sense is active watchfulness. In Christian use, this was often given a symbolic dimension: spiritual vigilance or keeping awake in faith. That religious interpretation grew out of the name's basic meaning; it is not a separate etymology. Greg has no independent root of its own; it is a clipped form of Gregory.
Greg Name History & Origins
The Greek name Grēgorios was used by early Christians. It appears in the names of Gregory Thaumaturgus, a bishop in the 3rd century, and of Gregory of Nyssa and Gregory of Nazianzus in the 4th century. Through Latin Gregorius, it entered the Western church and was borne by several popes, beginning with Gregory I, pope from 590 to 604, who is also called Gregory the Great.
The name spread with Christianity into many European languages, taking forms such as Italian and Spanish Gregorio, French Grégoire, German Gregor, and Russian Grigori. In England, Gregory was known in the Middle Ages; Pope Gregory the Great was associated with the mission that sent Augustine to the Anglo-Saxons in 596. The short form Greg is a later English clipping of Gregory. It has been used as a familiar form and, more recently, as a standalone given name in English-speaking countries.
How Popular is the Name Greg?
Greg recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1961. Greg entered the top 100 U.S. boy names in 1959.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | #11,549 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #11,240 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1977 | #10,137 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1976 | #8,497 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #7,757 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1972 | #8,718 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1971 | #4,909 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1970 | #5,539 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1969 | #5,176 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1968 | #4,301 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1967 | #5,151 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1966 | #6,051 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1965 | #6,051 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1964 | #7,130 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1963 | #5,515 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1962 | #6,122 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1961 | #3,854 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1960 | #6,703 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1958 | #6,432 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1957 | #6,426 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1951 | #5,060 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,761 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2024 | #4,455 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2023 | #4,938 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2022 | #4,607 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 2021 | #3,321 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 2020 | #4,190 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 2019 | #3,834 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 2018 | #4,032 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2017 | #4,027 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2016 | #3,080 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 2015 | #3,315 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 2014 | #3,829 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 2013 | #2,499 | 49 | 0.0026% |
| 2012 | #2,977 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 2011 | #2,680 | 45 | 0.0024% |
| 2010 | #2,888 | 41 | 0.0021% |
| 2009 | #2,363 | 55 | 0.0028% |
| 2008 | #2,045 | 68 | 0.0033% |
| 2007 | #2,221 | 60 | 0.0029% |
| 2006 | #1,880 | 72 | 0.0035% |
| 2005 | #1,546 | 91 | 0.0046% |
| 2004 | #1,543 | 86 | 0.0043% |
| 2003 | #1,691 | 73 | 0.0037% |
| 2002 | #1,686 | 70 | 0.0036% |
| 2001 | #1,487 | 82 | 0.0042% |
| 2000 | #1,524 | 79 | 0.0040% |
| 1999 | #1,389 | 85 | 0.0044% |
| 1998 | #1,166 | 108 | 0.0057% |
| 1997 | #1,200 | 99 | 0.0053% |
| 1996 | #1,082 | 112 | 0.0059% |
| 1995 | #978 | 129 | 0.0068% |
| 1994 | #954 | 134 | 0.0069% |
| 1993 | #878 | 148 | 0.0075% |
| 1992 | #796 | 173 | 0.0087% |
| 1991 | #771 | 177 | 0.0088% |
| 1990 | #711 | 204 | 0.0099% |
| 1989 | #654 | 234 | 0.0117% |
| 1988 | #658 | 205 | 0.0107% |
| 1987 | #537 | 286 | 0.0153% |
| 1986 | #542 | 271 | 0.0147% |
| 1985 | #475 | 331 | 0.0179% |
| 1984 | #420 | 388 | 0.0215% |
| 1983 | #400 | 414 | 0.0231% |
| 1982 | #385 | 438 | 0.0241% |
| 1981 | #368 | 474 | 0.0265% |
| 1980 | #336 | 558 | 0.0313% |
| 1979 | #326 | 571 | 0.0332% |
| 1978 | #278 | 696 | 0.0424% |
| 1977 | #249 | 824 | 0.0501% |
| 1976 | #237 | 857 | 0.0546% |
| 1975 | #218 | 952 | 0.0610% |
| 1974 | #200 | 1,099 | 0.0699% |
| 1973 | #181 | 1,300 | 0.0834% |
| 1972 | #173 | 1,437 | 0.0886% |
| 1971 | #163 | 1,695 | 0.0958% |
| 1970 | #154 | 2,006 | 0.1079% |
| 1969 | #152 | 1,985 | 0.1110% |
| 1968 | #142 | 2,047 | 0.1178% |
| 1967 | #140 | 2,100 | 0.1204% |
| 1966 | #126 | 2,454 | 0.1376% |
| 1965 | #105 | 3,181 | 0.1710% |
| 1964 | #95 | 3,971 | 0.1993% |
| 1963 | #81 | 4,853 | 0.2390% |
| 1962 | #77 | 5,367 | 0.2594% |
| 1961 | #77 | 5,398 | 0.2542% |
| 1960 | #83 | 5,085 | 0.2385% |
| 1959 | #91 | 4,637 | 0.2172% |
| 1958 | #105 | 3,790 | 0.1786% |
| 1957 | #127 | 2,972 | 0.1378% |
| 1956 | #182 | 1,603 | 0.0758% |
| 1955 | #210 | 1,166 | 0.0566% |
| 1954 | #226 | 953 | 0.0467% |
| 1953 | #238 | 797 | 0.0404% |
| 1952 | #242 | 769 | 0.0396% |
| 1951 | #247 | 739 | 0.0392% |
| 1950 | #228 | 804 | 0.0449% |
| 1949 | #214 | 868 | 0.0489% |
| 1948 | #178 | 1,189 | 0.0678% |
| 1947 | #171 | 1,316 | 0.0719% |
| 1946 | #212 | 806 | 0.0496% |
| 1945 | #314 | 355 | 0.0264% |
| 1944 | #445 | 188 | 0.0138% |
| 1943 | #520 | 145 | 0.0102% |
| 1942 | #632 | 101 | 0.0073% |
| 1941 | #710 | 76 | 0.0062% |
| 1940 | #831 | 57 | 0.0049% |
| 1939 | #821 | 55 | 0.0050% |
| 1938 | #902 | 49 | 0.0044% |
| 1937 | #1,133 | 34 | 0.0032% |
| 1936 | #1,172 | 32 | 0.0031% |
| 1935 | #1,619 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1934 | #1,746 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1933 | #2,834 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1932 | #2,721 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1931 | #2,737 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1930 | #2,667 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1928 | #2,923 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1927 | #3,004 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1925 | #2,655 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1924 | #4,067 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1922 | #3,664 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1921 | #4,605 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1920 | #4,009 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1915 | #3,207 | 7 | 0.0008% |
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.
Explore More Lists with Name Greg
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with G
Unique Short Boy Names That Start with G
How the Name Greg 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 have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Greg's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Greg's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.