Grey

At a Glance

Meaning

British spelling variant of Gray; surname from a Norman place-name ('Greek') or a nickname for grey hair/beard

Origin

English (variant of Gray, surname)

Gender

Neutral

Pronunciation

GRAYListen

Grey is a modern, minimalist name that works for a boy, a girl, or any child, pronounced simply GRAY. It's the British spelling of Gray, a surname with two unrelated roots — one a Norman place-name, the other a nickname for grey hair or a grey beard. If you've heard that Grey just means 'the color grey,' that's an oversimplification: it's really one of two separate surname branches, not a straightforward color reference.

Meaning & Origin of Grey

Meaning: British spelling variant of Gray; surname from a Norman place-name ('Greek') or a nickname for grey hair/beard.

Origin: English (variant of Gray, surname).

A common claim: Grey is often assumed to reference grey hair or the colour grey. Actually: As with 'Gray,' that's only one of two unrelated surname branches — the other is a Norman place-name ultimately meaning 'Greek,' unrelated to hair colour.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Grey

Popularity of Grey

In 2024, Grey ranked #876 on the SSA list with 274 babies given the name, down from its peak of #717 in 2021 when 362 babies received it.

Names Like Grey

These names share Grey’s style, era or origin.

• Adley
• Arden
• Arrow
• Ash
• Bay
• Bear

FAQ

What does the name Grey mean?

British spelling variant of Gray; surname from a Norman place-name (‘Greek’) or a nickname for grey hair/beard. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Grey?

Grey is pronounced GRAY (IPA: /ˈɡreɪ/).

Is Grey a popular name right now?

Grey peaked at #717 in 2021 and is ranked #876 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1913–2024.)

Make Grey Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Grey, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.