Graer
A name of uncertain origin, perhaps related to the German word "grau" meaning "gray".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Graer. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Graer today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Graer births was 2010 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Graer. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Graer. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2010
5 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2010 SSA rank
#12,922
Tracked since 2010
Popularity
Graer: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Graer 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 Graer during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Graer
The name Graer is believed to have its origins in the ancient Germanic language, dating back to the 5th century AD. It is thought to be derived from the Proto-Germanic root "grau," which means "gray" or "hoary." This root word is also found in Old English, Old Norse, and other early Germanic tongues.
In its earliest recorded use, Graer was a descriptive name given to individuals with grayish hair or a weathered complexion. It was particularly common among the tribes that inhabited the regions now known as Germany, the Netherlands, and parts of Scandinavia.
One of the earliest documented references to the name Graer can be found in the Codex Argenteus, a 6th-century manuscript containing a translation of the Bible into Gothic. The name appears in the Book of Judges, where it is used to refer to a character described as having a "hoary" or grayish appearance.
Throughout the Middle Ages, Graer remained a relatively obscure name, primarily used in Germanic-speaking regions. However, it gained some prominence in the 11th century, when a nobleman named Graer von Schwarzenberg was recorded as a prominent figure in the Holy Roman Empire.
Another notable individual bearing the name Graer was a 13th-century Flemish scholar and alchemist, Graer van Brugge. He is credited with several influential works on the study of metals and minerals, which contributed to the development of early modern chemistry.
In the 16th century, a Dutch explorer and navigator named Graer Jansz was recorded as one of the first Europeans to chart the coastline of Australia. His expeditions and detailed maps played a crucial role in the early exploration of the continent.
During the 17th century, a German artist and engraver named Graer Valck gained recognition for his intricate etchings and engravings, which depicted scenes from classical mythology and literature. His works were highly sought after by collectors and art patrons throughout Europe.
In more recent centuries, the name Graer has been less commonly used, but it has been borne by a few notable individuals. Graer Nilsson, a Swedish writer and journalist who lived from 1892 to 1967, was known for his critically acclaimed novels and short stories that explored the lives of working-class Swedes.
People
Graer + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Graer 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
Graer: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Graer?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Graer 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Graer a common name?
We classify Graer as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Graer most popular?
The single biggest year for Graer was 2010, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Graer is about 16 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Graer in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Graer a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Graer 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.
Is Graer still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Graer in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Graer can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Graer?
Find out how many people have the name Graer on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.