Given name & surname
Greg
“watchful”·“one who is vigilant; watch-”
In English use, Greg is a diminutive of Gregory. Interpretations include “watchful” and “one who is vigilant; watch-” (Greek). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Greg is a diminutive of Gregory. Interpretations include “watchful” and “one who is vigilant; watch-” (Greek). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Greg is a diminutive of Gregory. An origin associated with Gregory is Greek.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Greg is a diminutive of Gregory.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1915. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Greg is a diminutive of Gregory. The history of Gregory gives this family its wider story. Gregory’s historical associations include a number of early saints.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Greg through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 77,849
- 77,706 boys · 143 girls
- Most popular year
- 1961
- 5,409 babies
- 2025
- 21
- #4,761 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −15%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 21 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 4,761 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 14.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 5,397 in 1961. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 131,523 as a first name in 2020; 475 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Greg’s family of names
In English usage, Greg is a diminutive of Gregory. Greg has a surname derivative in Gregson. Greg has a related form in Gregg.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Greg has relatives in 5 languages.
6 related names in 5 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 5
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Greg
- Greg AbbottGovernor of Texas since 2015born 1957
- Greg KinnearAmerican actorborn 1963
- Greg LouganisAmerican Olympic springboard and platform diverborn 1960
- Greg BearAmerican writer best known for science fiction (1951–2022)
- Greg LakeEnglish bassist, guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and producer (1947–2016)
- Greg Van AvermaetBelgian cyclistborn 1985
- Greg LeMondAmerican racing cyclistborn 1961
- Greg OdenAmerican basketball player (born 1988)
- Greg RutherfordBritish long jumperborn 1986
Characters named Greg: Greg Heffley (main protagonist in the novel series Diary of a Wimpy Kid), Greg Sanders (fictional character on American television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation), Greg Pratt (fictional human).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Greg, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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