Gregory Boy

Popularity: #520 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: GREG-uh-ree //ˈɡrɛɡəri//

Origin: Greek; Latin

Meaning: Greek: watchful; vigilant; Latin: one who is watchful

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Gregory is derived from the Latin name "Gregorius," which in turn comes from the Greek "Gregorios," meaning "watchful" or "vigilant." The Greek root "gregorein" translates to "to be awake" or "to watch." This etymological journey reflects a linguistic evolution from Greek to Latin and then into Old French before being adopted into Middle English as "Gregory." The name has been used in various forms across different cultures, maintaining its core meaning related to vigilance and attentiveness. Historically, the name Gregory is notably associated with several significant figures, most prominently Saint Gregory the Great, who served as Pope from 590 to 604 AD.

He is recognized for his contributions to the Church, including the development of the Gregorian chant, which has had a lasting impact on Western music. The name also appears in various historical texts and translations, including the Vulgate, the Latin version of the Bible, which was completed in the late 4th century.

Gregory has been borne by numerous saints and popes throughout the centuries, further solidifying its prominence in Christian tradition. Culturally, the name Gregory has been embraced in various traditions, often symbolizing leadership and moral integrity due to its association with influential religious figures.

In addition to its ecclesiastical significance, the name has been used in literature and art, reinforcing its resonance in Western culture. The diminutive form "Greg" has also emerged as a familiar variant, though it is less historically significant than its full form.

Overall, the name Gregory carries a rich historical and cultural legacy, reflecting themes of vigilance and leadership.

Famous people named Gregory

In this section, you will find notable people named Gregory. 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 Gregory who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Gregory 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.

Gregory Peck is an actor best known for To Kill a Mockingbird, Roman Holiday, and The Guns of Navarone.

Gregory Hines was a dancer and actor best known for Tap, White Nights, and The Cotton Club.

Gregory Porter is a jazz singer and songwriter best known for Liquid Spirit, Take Me to the Alley, and All Rise.

Gregory Isaacs was a reggae musician best known for Night Nurse, Cool Ruler, and More Gregory.

Gregory Smith is an actor best known for Everwood, The Patriot, and The Amazing Race.

Gregory House is a fictional character and the protagonist of the television series House, M.D.

Fictional characters named Gregory

The following list of fictional characters named Gregory 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.

Gregory House is a fictional character from the TV series House. He is a brilliant but misanthropic doctor who leads a team of diagnosticians at a hospital.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Gregory, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

GabrielGideonGrahamGavinGlennGrant

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Gregory. 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.

GeorgeGeraldGordonGarethGraysonGideonGalen

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Gregory was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Gregory has ranked as high as #32 nationally, which occurred in 1962, and has been most popular in California, New York, Ohio, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.

In the past 5 years the name Gregory has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Gregory 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 Gregory was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

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 Gregory.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 493 493 0
2024 554 554 0
2023 557 557 0
2022 616 616 0
2021 608 608 0
2020 686 686 0
2019 806 806 0
2018 787 787 0
2017 890 890 0
2016 926 926 0
2015 987 987 0
2014 1,110 1,110 0
2013 1,182 1,182 0
2012 1,236 1,231 5
2011 1,265 1,265 0
2010 1,287 1,287 0
2009 1,426 1,426 0
2008 1,559 1,559 0
2007 1,684 1,679 5
2006 1,833 1,833 0
2005 1,903 1,903 0
2004 1,976 1,968 8
2003 2,110 2,110 0
2002 2,284 2,279 5
2001 2,478 2,478 0
2000 2,844 2,839 5
1999 3,055 3,048 7
1998 3,436 3,429 7
1997 3,813 3,802 11
1996 3,999 3,994 5
1995 4,454 4,442 12
1994 5,145 5,137 8
1993 5,824 5,807 17
1992 6,515 6,498 17
1991 7,579 7,555 24
1990 8,401 8,378 23
1989 8,799 8,760 39
1988 8,695 8,629 66
1987 9,193 9,135 58
1986 9,600 9,529 71
1985 9,838 9,767 71
1984 9,756 9,688 68
1983 10,044 9,980 64
1982 10,195 10,144 51
1981 8,826 8,756 70
1980 9,327 9,267 60
1979 9,163 9,109 54
1978 9,400 9,340 60
1977 10,112 10,052 60
1976 10,124 10,060 64
1975 10,478 10,400 78
1974 10,889 10,826 63
1973 11,759 11,674 85
1972 13,120 13,056 64
1971 14,840 14,760 80
1970 16,350 16,286 64
1969 16,241 16,166 75
1968 15,460 15,392 68
1967 15,864 15,775 89
1966 17,084 17,009 75
1965 18,283 18,205 78
1964 19,959 19,884 75
1963 21,509 21,420 89
1962 22,063 21,976 87
1961 21,453 21,364 89
1960 20,382 20,304 78
1959 19,950 19,889 61
1958 19,883 19,810 73
1957 21,531 21,472 59
1956 21,144 21,082 62
1955 19,877 19,815 62
1954 17,672 17,625 47
1953 16,195 16,160 35
1952 15,226 15,191 35
1951 14,135 14,102 33
1950 13,338 13,311 27
1949 10,999 10,979 20
1948 9,745 9,724 21
1947 9,347 9,327 20
1946 5,686 5,672 14
1945 2,485 2,474 11
1944 1,305 1,305 0
1943 1,134 1,134 0
1942 1,027 1,027 0
1941 831 824 7
1940 756 756 0
1939 596 596 0
1938 536 536 0
1937 512 507 5
1936 393 393 0
1935 368 368 0
1934 334 329 5
1933 260 254 6
1932 283 283 0
1931 255 255 0
1930 248 248 0
1929 242 237 5
1928 260 260 0
1927 241 241 0
1926 243 243 0
1925 212 212 0
1924 226 226 0
1923 191 191 0
1922 220 220 0
1921 184 184 0
1920 179 179 0
1919 163 163 0
1918 175 175 0
1917 158 158 0
1916 144 144 0
1915 135 135 0
1914 107 107 0
1913 85 85 0
1912 65 65 0
1911 36 36 0
1910 25 25 0
1909 26 26 0
1908 26 26 0
1907 21 21 0
1906 16 16 0
1905 13 13 0
1904 16 16 0
1903 10 10 0
1902 10 10 0
1901 16 16 0
1900 12 12 0
1899 11 11 0
1898 14 14 0
1897 8 8 0
1896 10 10 0
1895 9 9 0
1894 10 10 0
1893 9 9 0
1892 9 9 0
1890 12 12 0
1889 6 6 0
1888 5 5 0
1886 7 7 0
1885 5 5 0
1884 5 5 0
1881 6 6 0
1880 5 5 0

Top States for Gregory (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 54
11%
TX 44
9%
GA 36
7%
FL 34
7%
NY 34
7%
NC 25
5%
OH 23
4%
MI 18
4%
PA 18
4%
IL 16
3%
NJ 16
3%
AL 14
3%
IN 14
3%
MO 12
2%
MD 12
2%
MS 11
2%
TN 11
2%
MN 10
2%
VA 10
2%
CO 9
2%
AZ 9
2%
LA 9
2%
WI 9
2%
MA 8
2%
WA 8
2%
AR 7
1%
KS 7
1%
CT 7
1%
OR 6
1%
SC 6
1%
KY 6
1%
IA 5
1%
NV 5
1%