Grey Unisex

Popularity: #718 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: gray //ɡreɪ//

Origin: English; Old Norse

Meaning: English: gray color; Old Norse: 'the gray one'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Grey has its origins in the Old English word "grǣg," which means "gray" or "gray-haired." This term is derived from Proto-Germanic *graiwaz, which is also the source of similar words in other Germanic languages, such as Old High German "grau" and Old Norse "grár." The transition of the name into English likely occurred during the early medieval period, as the Anglo-Saxons settled in England and incorporated various elements of their language into Old English. The name Grey, as a color descriptor, has been used in English since at least the 12th century, reflecting both a physical characteristic and a metaphorical association with wisdom and age.

Historically, the name Grey has been associated with notable figures and families, particularly in England. One significant milestone is the rise of the Grey family, which became prominent in the 15th century.

The most famous member, Lady Jane Grey, was the nine-day queen of England in 1553, representing a brief but pivotal moment in the Tudor succession crisis. Her tragic story has been recounted in various historical texts and literature, cementing the name's association with themes of power and loss.

Additionally, the name appears in various literary works, contributing to its historical resonance. Culturally, the color grey has been imbued with various symbolic meanings, often representing neutrality, balance, and wisdom.

In heraldry, grey is sometimes used to symbolize steadfastness and loyalty, further enhancing the name's significance. The name Grey may also have diminutive forms, such as Gray, which have been used interchangeably in historical contexts.

Overall, the name Grey carries a rich tapestry of linguistic roots and historical associations, reflecting both its etymological origins and its cultural impact through the centuries.

Famous people named Grey

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

We also feature individuals named Grey 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.

Grey Griffin is a voice actress best known for The Fairly OddParents, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated.

Fictional characters named Grey

The following list of fictional characters named Grey 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.

Grey is a fictional character from the video game series Fire Emblem. He is a skilled warrior known for his loyalty and dedication to his comrades.

Grey is a fictional character from the comic book series The Wicked + The Divine. They are one of the reincarnated gods and play a significant role in the unfolding narrative of divine power and its consequences.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Grey, 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 Grey. 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 Grey was first seen in the United States in 1913.

Grey has ranked as high as #1280 nationally, which occurred in 2021, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Utah, and Florida.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Grey 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 Grey 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 Grey.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 253 222 31
2024 328 276 52
2023 325 276 49
2022 390 333 57
2021 445 362 83
2020 371 302 69
2019 404 335 69
2018 399 331 68
2017 398 327 71
2016 385 321 64
2015 306 234 72
2014 317 236 81
2013 248 204 44
2012 228 185 43
2011 156 126 30
2010 132 106 26
2009 149 132 17
2008 136 113 23
2007 117 103 14
2006 98 87 11
2005 55 49 6
2004 75 69 6
2003 62 57 5
2002 61 55 6
2001 59 48 11
2000 47 42 5
1999 56 51 5
1998 42 42 0
1997 51 46 5
1996 54 48 6
1995 43 43 0
1994 52 47 5
1993 38 38 0
1992 32 24 8
1991 36 31 5
1990 41 36 5
1989 22 22 0
1988 20 20 0
1987 15 15 0
1986 24 24 0
1985 16 16 0
1984 16 16 0
1983 15 15 0
1982 12 12 0
1981 13 13 0
1980 13 13 0
1979 13 13 0
1978 7 7 0
1977 9 9 0
1976 16 16 0
1975 10 10 0
1974 12 12 0
1973 12 12 0
1972 16 16 0
1971 8 8 0
1970 18 18 0
1969 12 12 0
1968 11 11 0
1967 19 19 0
1966 9 9 0
1965 16 16 0
1964 16 16 0
1963 15 15 0
1962 15 15 0
1961 20 20 0
1960 7 7 0
1959 16 16 0
1958 14 14 0
1957 17 17 0
1956 12 12 0
1955 6 6 0
1954 5 5 0
1953 10 10 0
1952 5 5 0
1951 12 12 0
1950 5 5 0
1949 9 9 0
1948 11 11 0
1947 7 7 0
1946 9 9 0
1945 6 6 0
1944 7 7 0
1943 5 5 0
1942 5 5 0
1941 7 7 0
1938 5 5 0
1936 6 6 0
1935 8 8 0
1934 7 7 0
1933 6 6 0
1931 7 7 0
1928 5 5 0
1926 9 9 0
1925 6 6 0
1924 7 7 0
1923 6 6 0
1922 8 8 0
1921 7 7 0
1920 7 7 0
1918 11 11 0
1917 6 6 0
1916 6 6 0
1913 7 7 0

Top States for Grey (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
TX 27
12%
CA 26
11%
FL 23
10%
NY 20
9%
WA 14
6%
CO 13
6%
UT 13
6%
MI 12
5%
GA 11
5%
NC 11
5%
PA 10
4%
OH 9
4%
MO 8
3%
MN 7
3%
SC 6
3%
WI 6
3%
LA 5
2%
TN 5
2%
CT 5
2%