Grey Unisex

Popularity: #654 · Trend: ↗ Rising

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 #1004 nationally, which occurred in 2021, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Utah, Florida, and New York.

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.

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. 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 27
13%
FL 23
11%
CA 18
9%
NY 15
7%
WA 14
7%
UT 13
6%
MI 12
6%
NC 11
5%
GA 11
5%
PA 10
5%
OH 9
4%
MO 8
4%
MN 7
3%
SC 6
3%
WI 6
3%

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.

YearBirths
2024274
2023276
2022333
2021362
2020302
2019335
2018331
2017327
2016321
2015234
2014236
2013204
2012185
2011126
2010106
2009132
2008113
2007103
200687
200549
200469
200357
200255
200148
200042
199951
199842
199746
199648
199543
199447
199338
199224
199131
199036
198922
198820
198715
198624
198516
198416
198315
198212
198113
198013
197913
19787
19779
197616
197510
197412
197312
197216
19718
197018
196912
196811
196719
19669
196516
196416
196315
196215
196120
19607
195916
195814
195717
195612
19556
19545
195310
19525
195112
19505
19499
194811
19477
19469
19456
19447
19435
19425
19417
19385
19366
19358
19347
19336
19317
19285
19269
19256
19247
19236
19228
19217
19207
191811
19176
19166
19137