Greg Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: GREH-g //ɡrɛɡ//
Origin: Greek; Latin
Meaning: Greek: watchful; Latin: vigilant
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Greg is derived from the Latin name "Gregorius," which itself originates from the Greek name "Gregorios," meaning "watchful" or "vigilant." The Greek term is rooted in the word "gregorein," which translates to "to be awake" or "to be watchful." This etymological journey reflects a linguistic evolution from Greek to Latin and eventually into Old French before entering the English language in the medieval period, where it was often used in various forms, including Gregory and Greg. Historically, the name Greg has been associated with several notable figures, most prominently Saint Gregory the Great, who served as Pope from 590 to 604 CE.
He is recognized for his contributions to the early Christian Church, including the Gregorian Chant, which bears his name. His influence was significant during the Middle Ages, and he is often credited with the consolidation of papal authority.
Additionally, other saints named Gregory, such as Gregory of Nazianzus and Gregory of Nyssa, further contributed to the name's prominence in Christian tradition. The name also appears in various translations of the Bible, including the King James Version, which helped to solidify its presence in English-speaking cultures.
Culturally, the name Greg has been imbued with connotations of watchfulness and leadership, reflecting its etymological roots. It has often been associated with figures of authority and moral guidance, particularly within the context of the Christian faith.
The diminutive form "Greg" has been widely used in informal contexts, maintaining a sense of familiarity while still honoring the name's historical significance. Overall, the name Greg carries a rich legacy, intertwined with religious, cultural, and linguistic histories that have contributed to its enduring presence.
Famous people named Greg
In this section, you will find notable people named Greg. 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 Greg who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Greg 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.
Greg Kinnear is an actor best known for As Good as It Gets, Little Miss Sunshine, and The Matador.
Greg Norman is a retired professional golfer best known for winning two Open Championships and being a former world number one.
Greg Louganis is a former diver best known for winning four Olympic gold medals and being a two-time world champion.
Greg Berlanti is a television producer best known for producing Arrow, The Flash, and Riverdale.
Greg Iles is an author best known for his novels such as Natchez Burning, The Quiet Game, and Turning Angel.
Fictional characters named Greg
The following list of fictional characters named Greg 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.
Greg Heffley is a fictional character from the book series Diary of a Wimpy Kid. He is a middle school student navigating the challenges of adolescence and family life.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Greg, 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 Greg. 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 Greg was first seen in the United States in 1915.
Greg has ranked as high as #168 nationally, which occurred in 1961, and has been most popular in California, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and New York.
In the past 5 years the name Greg has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Greg 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 Greg was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Greg (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 |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 10 |
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 Greg.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 23 |
| 2023 | 20 |
| 2022 | 22 |
| 2021 | 35 |
| 2020 | 24 |
| 2019 | 28 |
| 2018 | 26 |
| 2017 | 26 |
| 2016 | 38 |
| 2015 | 34 |
| 2014 | 27 |
| 2013 | 49 |
| 2012 | 39 |
| 2011 | 45 |
| 2010 | 41 |
| 2009 | 55 |
| 2008 | 68 |
| 2007 | 60 |
| 2006 | 72 |
| 2005 | 91 |
| 2004 | 86 |
| 2003 | 73 |
| 2002 | 70 |
| 2001 | 82 |
| 2000 | 79 |
| 1999 | 85 |
| 1998 | 108 |
| 1997 | 99 |
| 1996 | 112 |
| 1995 | 129 |
| 1994 | 134 |
| 1993 | 148 |
| 1992 | 173 |
| 1991 | 177 |
| 1990 | 204 |
| 1989 | 234 |
| 1988 | 205 |
| 1987 | 286 |
| 1986 | 271 |
| 1985 | 331 |
| 1984 | 388 |
| 1983 | 414 |
| 1982 | 438 |
| 1981 | 474 |
| 1980 | 558 |
| 1979 | 571 |
| 1978 | 696 |
| 1977 | 824 |
| 1976 | 857 |
| 1975 | 952 |
| 1974 | 1,099 |
| 1973 | 1,300 |
| 1972 | 1,437 |
| 1971 | 1,695 |
| 1970 | 2,006 |
| 1969 | 1,985 |
| 1968 | 2,047 |
| 1967 | 2,100 |
| 1966 | 2,454 |
| 1965 | 3,181 |
| 1964 | 3,971 |
| 1963 | 4,853 |
| 1962 | 5,367 |
| 1961 | 5,398 |
| 1960 | 5,085 |
| 1959 | 4,637 |
| 1958 | 3,790 |
| 1957 | 2,972 |
| 1956 | 1,603 |
| 1955 | 1,166 |
| 1954 | 953 |
| 1953 | 797 |
| 1952 | 769 |
| 1951 | 739 |
| 1950 | 804 |
| 1949 | 868 |
| 1948 | 1,189 |
| 1947 | 1,316 |
| 1946 | 806 |
| 1945 | 355 |
| 1944 | 188 |
| 1943 | 145 |
| 1942 | 101 |
| 1941 | 76 |
| 1940 | 57 |
| 1939 | 55 |
| 1938 | 49 |
| 1937 | 34 |
| 1936 | 32 |
| 1935 | 19 |
| 1934 | 17 |
| 1933 | 8 |
| 1932 | 9 |
| 1931 | 9 |
| 1930 | 10 |
| 1928 | 9 |
| 1927 | 9 |
| 1925 | 11 |
| 1924 | 6 |
| 1922 | 7 |
| 1921 | 5 |
| 1920 | 6 |
| 1915 | 7 |