Gregory (given name) explained

Gregory
Meaning:watchful, alert
Region:worldwide
Origin:Greek via Latin
Gender:Male

The masculine first name Gregory or Grégory derives from the Latin name "Gregorius", which came from the late Greek name "Γρηγόριος" (Grēgórios) meaning "watchful, alert" (derived from "ἐγείρω" "egeiro" meaning "to awaken, arouse"). (See also the egrḗgoroi or Watcher angels in Second Book of Enoch).

Through folk etymology, the name also became associated with Latin grex (stem greg–) meaning "flock" or "herd". This association with a shepherd who diligently guides his flock contributed to the name's popularity among monks and popes.

Sixteen popes and two antipopes have used the name Gregorius, starting with Pope Gregory I (Gregory the Great). It is tied with Benedict as the second-most popular name for popes, after John.

Although the name was uncommon in the early 20th century, after the popularity of the actor Gregory Peck it became one of the ten most common male names in the United States in the 1950s and has remained popular since.[1]

Name days

The Roman Catholic Church traditionally held the feast of Saint Gregory (the Great) on March 12, but changed it to September 3 in 1969. March 12 remains the name day for Gregory in most countries.

Gregory the Theologian (also known as Gregory of Nazianzus) is one of the Three Hierarchs (Ancient Greek: Οἱ Τρεῖς Ἱεράρχαι; Greek: Οι Τρεις Ιεράρχες). The other two are Basil the Great, also known as Basil of Caesarea and John Chrysostom.All three have separate feast days in January: Basil on January 1, Gregory on January 25, and Chrysostom on January 27.

Forms in different languages

Grigor, Gregor, Gërgur

ጎርጎሪዯስ (Gorgorios)

Arabic: جِرْجِير (Jirjir), Arabic: جريج (Jurayj), Arabic: جريجوري (Jirījūrī), Arabic: غريغوري (Ghirīghūrī)

Գրիգոր (Western Armenian: Krikor; Eastern Armenian: Grigor)

Belarusian: Рыгор (Ryhor)

গ্রেগরি (Grēgari)

Bulgarian: Григор (Grigor)

Gregori

格雷戈里 (Géléigēlǐ), 格里高利 (Gélǐgāolì)

Grgur, Grga or Grgo

Řehoř

Gregers

Gregoor, Gregorius

Gregory, also Gregg, Greg

Reigo

Grækaris

Reijo or Reko

Grégory or Grégoire

გრიგოლი (Grigoli, Grigori)

Gregor

Γρηγόριος (Grigorios, Gri̱górios, Gregorios), Γρηγόρης (Grigoris, Gregoris)

ગ્રેગરી (Grēgarī)

גרגורי

ग्रेगोरी (Grēgōrī)

Gergely, Gergő or Transylvanian: Gerő

Gregor

Gregorius, Gregory

Gréagóir

Gregorio

Guregori (グレゴリー)

ಗ್ರೆಗೊರಿ (Gregori)

그레고리오 (Geulegolio)

Gregorius

Gregors

Grigalius, Grigas or Gregoras, Gregorijus

Григориј, Grigorij

ग्रेगोरी (Grēgōrī)

Грегори, Gryegori

ग्रेगरी, Grēgarī

Greger or Gregers

گرگوری

Grzegorz, diminutives Grześ, Grzesiu, Grzesio, Grzesiek

Gregório

Grigore or Gligor

Russian: Григорий (Grigoriy, Grigori, Grigory), with diminutives Russian: Гришa (Grisha), Russian: Гришка (Grishka)

Griogair

Gregor

Grigorije (Григорије), Gligorije (Глигорије), or Grgur (Гргур)

Slovak: Gregor, Slovak: Jerguš

Slovenian: Grega or Slovenian: Gregor

Gregorio

Greger

கிரிகோரி (Kirikōri)

గ్రెగొరీ (Gregorī)

เกรกอรี or เกรกกอรี (Gregori, Greggori, Krekori, Krekkori)

Krikor or Grigor

Григорій (Hryhoriy), Гриць(ко) (Hryts(ko))

گریگوری

Grigor

גרעגאָרי, Gregori

Notable people named Gregory

Religious figures

Aristocrats

Other

Fictional characters

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: United States Social Security Administration (SSA) Website where the statistics on baby names from 1900 to the present can be looked up)..

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