Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Grace
GirlEnglish, Latin· “grace”
- Meaning
- grace
- Origin
- English, Latin
- Pronunciation
- GRAYS
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #38
- US babies 2025
- 5,127
- Best rank
- #13 (1883)
- Peak year
- 2003
Meaning and origin of Grace
Grace is an English and Latin name that means “grace”.
Grace comes directly from the English word, taken from the Latin gratia, "favor" or "thanks". In Christian thought, grace is the unearned favor of God, which is why the Puritans chose it as one of their virtue names in the seventeenth century. Grace O'Malley, the sixteenth-century Irish sea captain and chieftain, bore it as an English rendering of her Irish name, Gráinne. Actress Grace Kelly, who became Princess of Monaco, later gave it a polished, elegant image. Grace feels gentle and timeless, and it works equally well as a first or middle name. Gracie is a sweet nickname.
Famous parents who chose Grace: Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell (2021). More celebrity baby names
Popularity over time
Grace has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #13 in 1883, and the most babies received it in 2003, when 12,781 were named Grace. In 2025, 5,127 babies were named Grace, and it ranked #38 nationally. That is 33% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #37 in 1920, #183 in 1950, #317 in 1980, #19 in 2000, #18 in 2010, and #38 in 2025. Of the 534,935 US girls named Grace since records began, 21% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 73,058 babies. Since 2010, 104,591 more have been named Grace.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Abigail, Hailey, Paige, Trinity, and Faith.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Grace ranked highest in Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | #9 | 193 |
| Maine | #9 | 37 |
| New Hampshire | #14 | 41 |
| Pennsylvania | #18 | 244 |
| Maryland | #18 | 115 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Grace is usually pronounced GRAYS, with one syllable. It has five letters, starts with G and ends in “-ce”.
Middle names for Grace
A few middle names that flow with Grace: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Grace
Similar names
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Serenity Girl
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Faith Girl
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Gracie Girl
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Sage Unisex
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Lists that include Grace
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Grace mean?
Grace is an English and Latin name that means “grace”.
What is the origin of the name Grace?
Grace has English and Latin roots. Grace comes directly from the English word, taken from the Latin gratia, "favor" or "thanks".
Is Grace a popular name?
Yes. Grace ranked #38 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Grace a boy or girl name?
Grace is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Grace?
Grace is usually pronounced GRAYS. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings