Gray

Gray - A very unique male name

Gray appeared on the charts for the first time in 1915 on position #1344. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Gray and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Gray? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Gray. The baby boy name Gray was given to 75 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1445 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 19,550 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Gray peaked in popularity 69 years ago in 1957 on position 1087.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Gray, 1-5?

Gray is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Gray is currently topping the baby name charts in Alabama at position #645 - and is the least popular in California at position #2,059.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Gray is where you live.

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Gray origin and meaning

English word name and surname

From the colour grey; as a surname it originally described grey hair or clothing

Gray has been used sporadically as a boy's name since the early 20th century, both as a surname transfer and as a colour name. It fits the current taste for short, muted, colour-and-nature names. It peaked in 2023 and has eased slightly since.

Attested etymology

Gray is a 4 letter name with 1 syllables.

To see famous people named Gray, pop culture references for the name Gray and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Gray

We've found the following names that sound similar to Gray, sorted by popularity.

Gary / Garry / Gerry / Grey / Geary / Ger / Garey / Gery / Gor / Garo /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Gray

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Gray a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Gray?

1 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

GRAY · /ɡreɪ/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Grey — The alternative spelling of the same colour name.

Famous bearers

• Gray Davis — Former governor of California, born Joseph Graham Davis Jr. and universally known by his nickname Gray (b. 1942) Contemporary

Style

Word nameSurnameNature

Why parents choose it

Gray is minimal and calm — one syllable, a colour, and a surname history in one. It pairs easily with longer surnames and middle names.

Worth knowing

• Gray and Grey are both used; the spelling will need stating.
• As a colour word it can read as a description rather than a name to some ears.