Grigor
A masculine Armenian name derived from the Greek "Gregorios", meaning "watchful".
Name Census estimates that about 193 living Americans carry the first name Grigor. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Grigor today is around 23 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Grigor births was 1992 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Grigor. 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
193
~ 1 in 1,775,929 Americans
Peak year
1992
14 babies that year
Average age
23
years old
2022 SSA rank
#8,540
Tracked since 1984
Popularity
Grigor: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Grigor from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 81 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Grigor 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 Grigor during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Grigors live
Origin
Meaning and history of Grigor
The given name Grigor has its origins in the Armenian language and culture, dating back to the early centuries of the Christian era. It is derived from the Armenian word "grigor," which means "vigilant" or "watchful." The name is a transliteration of the Greek name "Gregorios," which itself is rooted in the Greek word "gregorein," meaning "to watch" or "to be awake."
Grigor is a widely popular name among Armenians, and it has been used throughout the centuries. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the 4th century, when Grigor Lusavorich, also known as St. Gregory the Illuminator, was the pivotal figure in the conversion of Armenia to Christianity. His efforts led to the establishment of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and he is revered as a national hero and saint.
Another notable figure in Armenian history was Grigor Narekatsi, a 10th-century monk, poet, and philosopher. He is renowned for his literary masterpiece, the "Book of Lamentations," which is considered a pinnacle of Armenian literature and has been translated into numerous languages.
In the realm of religious leadership, Grigor VIII Pahlavuni, also known as Grigor of Cilicia, was a prominent figure in the 13th century. He served as the Catholicos (head) of the Armenian Apostolic Church from 1293 to 1307 and played a significant role in the church's administration during a tumultuous period.
Grigor Tatevatsi, born in 1346, was a renowned Armenian philosopher, theologian, and teacher. He is particularly known for his extensive commentaries on the works of Aristotle and his contributions to the development of Armenian philosophical thought.
In more recent times, Grigor Artsruni was an influential Armenian writer, historian, and public figure who lived from 1845 to 1892. He is celebrated for his historical novels, which explored the lives of prominent figures from Armenian history and helped preserve the cultural heritage of the Armenian people.
While the name Grigor has been predominantly used within the Armenian community, it has also been adopted in various forms by other cultures and languages. However, its origins and deep-rooted connections to Armenian history and culture remain an integral part of its legacy.
People
Grigor + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Grigor 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
Grigor: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Grigor?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 193 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Grigor 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 1,775,929 US residents.
Is Grigor a common name?
We classify Grigor as "Very Rare". It ranks above 73.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 197 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Grigor most popular?
The single biggest year for Grigor was 1992, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Grigor is about 23 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Grigor a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Grigor 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.