Greg
Greg is a boy's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Watchful, vigilant, or alert.
Origin and history
Greg is a short form of Gregory, derived from the Greek name Gregorios, which means watchful or alert. It gained strong popularity in the United States during the mid-to-late 20th century as a friendly, approachable masculine name. Today, it is less common for newborns but remains widely recognized across generations.
Popularity in the United States
77,706 babies in the United States have been named Greg since 1880. It ranks #375 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1782.
States where it is most popular
- CA (13.7 %)
- OH (6.4 %)
- TX (5.6 %)
- IL (5.4 %)
- MI (5.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 7 |
| 1920-1930 | 53 |
| 1930-1940 | 242 |
| 1940-1950 | 5,101 |
| 1950-1960 | 18,229 |
| 1960-1970 | 36,438 |
| 1970-1980 | 11,435 |
| 1980-1990 | 3,598 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,369 |
| 2000-2010 | 736 |
| 2010-2019 | 353 |
| 2020-2029 | 145 |
Famous people named Greg
- Greg Kinnear: Actor, Television Host
- Greg Norman: Golfer, Entrepreneur
- Greg LeMond: Cyclist
Fun facts
- Greg originated as a standard English spoken contraction for Gregory before gaining independence as a given name.
- The name experienced its peak usage in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s.