Gender Masculine
Usage English
Pronounced Pron. GREHG-ə-ree  [key·IPA]

Meaning & History

English form of Latin Gregorius, which was from the Late Greek name Γρηγόριος (Gregorios), derived from γρήγορος (gregoros) meaning "watchful, alert". This name was popular among early Christians, being borne by a number of important saints including Saint Gregory Thaumaturgus (3rd century), Saint Gregory the Illuminator (4th century), Saint Gregory of Nyssa (4th century), Saint Gregory of Nazianzus (4th century), and Saint Gregory of Tours (6th century). It was also borne by the 6th-century pope Saint Gregory I the Great, a reformer and Doctor of the Church, as well as 15 subsequent popes.

Due to the renown of the saints by this name, Gregory (in various spellings) has remained common in the Christian world through the Middle Ages and to the present day. It has been used in England since the 12th century. A famous bearer from the modern era was American actor Gregory Peck (1916-2003).

Related Names

DiminutivesGreg, Gregg
Other Languages & CulturesGrigor, Krikor(Armenian) Ryhor(Belarusian) Grigor(Bulgarian) Grgur, Grga(Croatian) Řehoř(Czech) Gregers(Danish) Reigo(Estonian) Reijo, Reko(Finnish) Grégoire, Grégory(French) Grigol(Georgian) Gregor(German) Grigorios, Grigoris(Greek) Gergely, Gergő(Hungarian) Gréagóir(Irish) Gregorio(Italian) Gregorios, Gregorius(Late Greek) Grigorijs(Latvian) Grigor, Gligor(Macedonian) Gregers(Norwegian) Grzegorz(Polish) Gregório(Portuguese) Grigore(Romanian) Grigori, Grigorii, Grigoriy, Grigory, Grisha(Russian) Gregor, Greig(Scottish) Griogair(Scottish Gaelic) Gregor(Slovak) Grega, Gregor(Slovene) Gregorio, Goyo(Spanish) Greger(Swedish) Hrihoriy, Hryhoriy(Ukrainian)
Surname DescendantGregory(English)
Same SpellingGrégory

People think this name is

classic   mature   formal   upper class   wholesome   strong   refined   serious  

Images

Pope Gregory the Great, by Carlo Saraceni (1610)Pope Gregory the Great, by Carlo Saraceni (1610)

Categories

Entry updated May 29, 2020