Grey

Meaning of Grey

Grey, a chromatic surname-turned-forename of Anglo-Norman extraction, derives from the Middle English grai—ultimately from Old French gris—and originally denoted either the ash-toned garments of a medieval monk or the silvered hair of an elder; in contemporary usage it functions as a concise, gender-inclusive given name whose semantic field suggests neutrality, equilibrium, and understated sophistication. Within the United States, Social Security data reveal a long, low-amplitude trajectory: first recorded in 1913, the name has remained outside the top 500 yet has displayed incremental gains in the twenty-first century, cresting at 362 births in 2021 and maintaining a rank near 650 in 2024, a pattern indicative of niche but persistent appeal. Cultural associations range from the reformist British Prime Minister Charles, 2nd Earl Grey—eponym of the bergamot-scented tea—to fictional figures such as Meredith Grey of television fame and the more controversial Christian Grey of modern literature, each reinforcing a perception of intellect, poise, and ambiguity. Pronounced identically in British and American English as GRAY (/ɡreɪ/), the name offers parents a monosyllabic, phonetically transparent option that balances tradition with contemporary minimalism.

Pronunciation

English

• Pronunced as GRAY (/ɡreɪ/)

• Greyson
• Gracie
• Grayson
• Gracen
• Graydon
• Grayling
• Graye