Grayson Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: GRAY-suhn //ˈɡreɪsən//
Origin: English; Old French
Meaning: Son of the steward; son of the gray-haired one
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Grayson is of English origin, derived from the surname Gray, which itself comes from the Old English word "græg," meaning "gray." The suffix "-son" indicates lineage or descent, thus Grayson can be interpreted as "son of Gray." This construction is typical in English surnames, particularly those that emerged during the Middle Ages, when surnames began to be adopted more widely in England. The transition from surname to given name became more common in the 19th century, reflecting a broader trend of using surnames as first names in English-speaking cultures.
Historically, the name Gray has been associated with various notable figures, including individuals in the nobility and literary circles. One significant milestone in the name's history is its appearance in the works of Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century, where the color gray was often used symbolically to denote wisdom or age.
Additionally, the name Gray has been borne by several saints and historical figures, contributing to its cultural resonance. The use of Grayson as a given name gained traction in the 19th century, paralleling the rise of other surname-derived names.
Culturally, Grayson carries connotations of strength and stability, often associated with the color gray, which symbolizes neutrality and balance. The name has been embraced in various literary and artistic contexts, further embedding it in cultural narratives.
Its diminutive form, Gray, has also been used historically, adding to the name's versatility. Overall, Grayson reflects a rich linguistic heritage and a connection to familial lineage, embodying both historical significance and cultural depth.
Famous people named Grayson
In this section, you will find notable people named Grayson. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Grayson who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Grayson who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Grayson Perry is an artist and writer best known for his ceramic works, the television series Grayson Perry's Art Club, and the book The Descent of Man.
Grayson Allen is a professional basketball player best known for playing with the Memphis Grizzlies and the Duke Blue Devils.
Grayson Waller is a professional wrestler best known for his work in WWE and NXT.
Fictional characters named Grayson
The following list of fictional characters named Grayson is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Grayson is a fictional character from the comic book series Grayson. He is a former Robin who becomes a spy for the secret organization Spyral, taking on a new identity to operate in the shadows.
Grayson is a fictional character from the animated series Young Justice. He is known as Nightwing and serves as a leader among the young heroes, often mentoring younger sidekicks.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Grayson, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Grayson. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Grayson was first seen in the United States in 1905.
Grayson has ranked as high as #47 nationally, which occurred in 2017, and has been most popular in Texas, California, North Carolina, Florida, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Grayson has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Grayson is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Grayson was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Grayson (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 533 | |
| FL | 381 | |
| OH | 373 | |
| CA | 373 | |
| NY | 280 | |
| PA | 256 | |
| NC | 250 | |
| TN | 237 | |
| GA | 235 | |
| MI | 198 | |
| IL | 176 | |
| IN | 172 | |
| KY | 163 | |
| VA | 155 | |
| MO | 154 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Grayson.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 6,211 |
| 2023 | 6,465 |
| 2022 | 7,191 |
| 2021 | 7,549 |
| 2020 | 7,482 |
| 2019 | 8,306 |
| 2018 | 8,605 |
| 2017 | 8,717 |
| 2016 | 8,692 |
| 2015 | 7,925 |
| 2014 | 6,580 |
| 2013 | 5,557 |
| 2012 | 4,717 |
| 2011 | 3,940 |
| 2010 | 3,359 |
| 2009 | 2,258 |
| 2008 | 2,116 |
| 2007 | 1,853 |
| 2006 | 1,681 |
| 2005 | 1,308 |
| 2004 | 1,196 |
| 2003 | 1,025 |
| 2002 | 929 |
| 2001 | 875 |
| 2000 | 926 |
| 1999 | 812 |
| 1998 | 725 |
| 1997 | 658 |
| 1996 | 582 |
| 1995 | 532 |
| 1994 | 385 |
| 1993 | 293 |
| 1992 | 279 |
| 1991 | 239 |
| 1990 | 228 |
| 1989 | 169 |
| 1988 | 152 |
| 1987 | 153 |
| 1986 | 135 |
| 1985 | 136 |
| 1984 | 100 |
| 1983 | 76 |
| 1982 | 56 |
| 1981 | 48 |
| 1980 | 69 |
| 1979 | 56 |
| 1978 | 45 |
| 1977 | 35 |
| 1976 | 40 |
| 1975 | 45 |
| 1974 | 36 |
| 1973 | 27 |
| 1972 | 29 |
| 1971 | 35 |
| 1970 | 45 |
| 1969 | 34 |
| 1968 | 28 |
| 1967 | 37 |
| 1966 | 31 |
| 1965 | 18 |
| 1964 | 26 |
| 1963 | 24 |
| 1962 | 26 |
| 1961 | 22 |
| 1960 | 36 |
| 1959 | 22 |
| 1958 | 16 |
| 1957 | 26 |
| 1956 | 24 |
| 1955 | 25 |
| 1954 | 28 |
| 1953 | 23 |
| 1952 | 29 |
| 1951 | 25 |
| 1950 | 29 |
| 1949 | 18 |
| 1948 | 37 |
| 1947 | 24 |
| 1946 | 19 |
| 1945 | 15 |
| 1944 | 27 |
| 1943 | 25 |
| 1942 | 26 |
| 1941 | 33 |
| 1940 | 17 |
| 1939 | 18 |
| 1938 | 25 |
| 1937 | 22 |
| 1936 | 25 |
| 1935 | 11 |
| 1934 | 20 |
| 1933 | 16 |
| 1932 | 20 |
| 1931 | 39 |
| 1930 | 16 |
| 1929 | 32 |
| 1928 | 26 |
| 1927 | 22 |
| 1926 | 26 |
| 1925 | 28 |
| 1924 | 28 |
| 1923 | 30 |
| 1922 | 32 |
| 1921 | 21 |
| 1920 | 28 |
| 1919 | 35 |
| 1918 | 25 |
| 1917 | 26 |
| 1916 | 24 |
| 1915 | 27 |
| 1914 | 15 |
| 1913 | 15 |
| 1912 | 12 |
| 1911 | 5 |
| 1910 | 5 |
| 1908 | 6 |
| 1905 | 6 |