Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Greg
BoyEnglish, Greek· “short for Gregory; watchful”
- Meaning
- short for Gregory; watchful
- Origin
- English, Greek
- Pronunciation
- GREG
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #4,761
- US babies 2025
- 21
- Best rank
- #77 (1961)
- Peak year
- 1961
Meaning and origin of Greg
Greg is an English and Greek name that means “short for Gregory; watchful”.
Greg is a short form of Gregory, from Greek Grēgorios, watchful or vigilant, from grēgorein, to be awake. Pope Gregory the Great was a sixth-century pope who sent missionaries to England, and Gregorian chant is named after him. Greg was common as a first name in the US and Britain in the mid-twentieth century. It is said GREG. Gregory and Gregor are the longer forms. It is used as a full name as well as a nickname.
Other spellings with the same sound: Gregg.
Popularity over time
Greg first appears in US Social Security records in 1915. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 58 different years, starting in 1938. Its best national rank was #77 in 1961, the same year it reached its highest count of 5,397 babies. In 2025, 21 babies were named Greg, and it ranked #4,761 nationally. That is 38% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #4,009 in 1920, #228 in 1950, #336 in 1980, #1,524 in 2000, #2,889 in 2010, and #4,761 in 2025. Of the 77,706 US boys named Greg since records began, 47% were born in the 1960s, its biggest decade. The 1950s come next, with 18,229 babies. Since 2010, 498 more have been named Greg.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Jay, Curtis, Darryl, Dean, and Phillip.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Greg ranked highest in California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| California | #2591 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Greg is usually pronounced GREG, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with G and ends in “-eg”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Gregg.
Middle names for Greg
A few middle names that flow with Greg: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Greg
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Lists that include Greg
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Greg mean?
Greg is an English and Greek name that means “short for Gregory; watchful”.
What is the origin of the name Greg?
Greg has English and Greek roots. Greg is a short form of Gregory, from Greek Grēgorios, watchful or vigilant, from grēgorein, to be awake.
Is Greg a popular name?
Not especially. Greg ranked #4,761 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Greg a boy or girl name?
Greg is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Greg?
Greg is usually pronounced GREG. 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