Greig

A boy's name of Scottish Gaelic origin with 384 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

A Scottish surname transferred from the given name based on the given name Gregory.

Greig is a boy's baby name of Scottish Gaelic origin, a Scottish surname derived from Gregory, from the Greek Gregorios meaning 'watchful' or 'vigilant.' The name is most famously associated with Edvard Grieg, the Norwegian composer whose Peer Gynt Suite and Piano Concerto are among classical music's most beloved works.

As a given name, Greig carries the musical legacy of Norway's greatest composer — a surname-as-given-name choice that announces cultural sophistication and an appreciation for Scandinavian musical heritage.

EtymologyShow more

The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Greig's final sounds are sharp, distinct — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. In English-language naming, masculine names frequently end on harder consonants or closed syllables, creating a sense of decisiveness and strength. Greig follows that masculine pattern.

Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Greig's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.

At a Glance

384

Total births

Since 1938

1957

Peak

23 births

1938

First recorded

43 years of data

Compare Greig with another name

Popularity Over Time

Greig has 34+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1938.

First appeared: 1938Peak: 1957 (23 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Greig
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
1980s	5	#6615	▼
1970s	42	#4716	▼
1960s	111	#2867	▼
1950s	163	#2024	▲
1940s	55	#2915	▲
1930s	8	#2739	—

The Story of Greig

A Baby Boomer name

Peaking in 1957, Greig is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Boys named Greig are most likely born between 1947 and 1967.

How rare is Greig?

With fewer than 500 recorded births, Greig is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1938, peaked in the 1950s with 163 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Greig by the numbers

Would fill 8 school buses
Meeting one Greig per day would take 1.1 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(34 years, 1938–1980)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Greig
Year	Births	Rank	Change
1980	5	#6615	0
1979	5	#6411	-2 (-28.6%)
1976	7	#4598	+1 (16.7%)
1974	6	#4862	+1 (20.0%)
1972	5	#5258	-8 (-61.5%)
1971	13	#2734	+7 (116.7%)
1970	6	#4431	0
1969	6	#4122	-2 (-25.0%)
1968	8	#3205	+3 (60.0%)
1967	5	#4192	-9 (-64.3%)
1966	14	#2170	+5 (55.6%)
1965	9	#2872	-9 (-50.0%)
1964	18	#1928	+11 (157.1%)
1963	7	#3442	-5 (-41.7%)
1962	12	#2429	-8 (-40.0%)
1961	20	#1839	+8 (66.7%)
1960	12	#2468	-6 (-33.3%)
1959	18	#1937	+7 (63.6%)
1958	11	#2564	-12 (-52.2%)
1957	23	#1693	+7 (43.8%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Greig a boy's or girl's name?

Greig is primarily a boy's name.

When was Greig most popular?

Greig reached its peak popularity in 1957 with 23 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Greig?

Greig is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 384 babies in the U.S. since 1938. Its peak was in 1957.

Explore More

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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1938–1980