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Grayson Name Meaning, Origins & History

Grayson

Pronunciation: GRAY-suhn

Meaning Son of the gray haired man Origin surnames Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#51
TREND
3
GIRLS RANK
#3,117
TREND
473
Peak Years
2017, 2016, 2018
Lowest Years
1910, 1911, 1908
Energy Archetype
Reflective & Analytical

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Grayson in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Grayson

  • A newer favorite: Grayson first entered the U.S. top 100 in 2011 and stayed there through 2025 - a run of 15 consecutive years.
  • More than 133 thousand babies named Grayson: U.S. records list 133,135 babies given the name Grayson from 1880 through 2025. Even 4,191 girls received the name Grayson - about 1 girl for every 31 boys.

What Does the Name Grayson Mean?

Grayson is an English name derived from a surname. Its most commonly cited meaning is son of the steward, from the Middle English term greyve (a reeve or estate manager), which is related to Old English gerēfa. The ending -son is a patronymic suffix meaning son of.

Some sources give a different derivation: the first element may be the Middle English personal name Gray, from Old English grǣg meaning gray, a nickname for someone with gray hair or a gray beard. On that explanation the name means son of Gray. Because both a common personal name and the occupational word greyve existed in medieval England, the two derivations are not easy to tell apart, and the spelling Gray- is often taken as support for the nickname origin.

Grayson Name History & Origins

Grayson originated as a surname in medieval England. Patronymic surnames formed with -son were especially common in northern England, and the surname Grayson is associated with northern counties such as Yorkshire. It could have been given to the son of a man named Gray, or to the son of a greyve, an official who managed a lord's estate. In either case, the surname became hereditary and passed down through families.

As a given name, Grayson was used occasionally in the 19th century, usually as a transfer from the surname. It became more common as a first name in the late 20th century and is now used in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other English-speaking countries. The name is familiar in modern fiction through Dick Grayson, the first Robin in DC Comics, introduced in 1940; that is a literary association, not the name's origin.

How Popular is the Name Grayson?

Grayson recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2017. Grayson entered the top 100 U.S. boy names in 2011.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

Explore Name Lists Featuring Grayson

Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.

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How the Name Grayson Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You are introspective, prophetic, philosophical, and soul searching, but also can be analytical, critical and opinionated. You think deeply and clearly, have an air of mystery, can be solitary and secretive. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.

You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.

✦ Grayson's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Grayson's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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