Garo
Of Armenian origin meaning "awakened, woke up".
Name Census estimates that about 149 living Americans carry the first name Garo. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Garo today is around 41 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Garo births was 1981 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Garo. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
149
~ 1 in 2,300,365 Americans
Peak year
1981
12 babies that year
Average age
41
years old
2008 SSA rank
#10,230
Tracked since 1960
Popularity
Garo: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Garo from the 1960s through to the 2000s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 50 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1970s peak, Garo remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Garo by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Garo during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Garos live
Origin
Meaning and history of Garo
The given name Garo traces its origins to the Armenian language and culture. It is believed to have derived from the Armenian word "gar," which means "to live" or "to exist." The name's roots can be traced back to ancient Armenia, a region that spans across modern-day Turkey, Iran, and Armenia itself.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Garo can be found in the Armenian Epic of Daredevils, an ancient literary work that dates back to the 5th century AD. The epic includes a character named Garo, who is depicted as a brave and valiant warrior. This suggests that the name was in use during that time period.
In the realm of historical figures, Garo Armen (1270-1329) was an influential Armenian poet and writer who lived during the medieval period. His works, which include epic poems and religious texts, played a significant role in shaping Armenian literature and cultural identity.
Another notable figure bearing the name Garo was Garo Sasuni (1879-1915), an Armenian revolutionary and political activist who fought for the independence of Armenia from the Ottoman Empire. He was a key figure in the Armenian national liberation movement and is remembered as a martyr for his cause.
In the modern era, Garo Paylan (born 1972) is a Turkish-Armenian politician and human rights activist who has served as a member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly since 2015. He is known for his advocacy for minority rights and his efforts to promote reconciliation between Turks and Armenians.
Garo Yepremian (1944-2015) was an Armenian-American professional football player who gained fame as a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). He played for several teams, including the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins, and is remembered for his successful career and unique kicking style.
Garo Armen, Garo Sasuni, Garo Paylan, and Garo Yepremian are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Garo, showcasing its significance and enduring presence across different eras and spheres of influence.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Garo
People
Garo + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Garo as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with G
Other first names starting with G with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Garo: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Garo?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 149 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Garo going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,300,365 US residents.
Is Garo a common name?
We classify Garo as "Very Rare". It ranks above 70.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 157 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Garo most popular?
The single biggest year for Garo was 1981, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Garo is about 41 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Garo a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Garo in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.