Baby Boy Names That Begin With G

Unusual, Classic, and Trendy Male Name Choices

Mar 9, 2008

A Cute Newborn Baby Boy, Nasir Khan, Morguefile.com

Gabriel? Garrett? Gordon? Grayson? Here are some popular and uncommon baby boy names that start with the letter G.

Looking for a baby boy name that begins with G? According to the U.S. Social Security Baby Name Index, only two baby boy names actually ranked in the top 100 in 2006-- Gabriel and Gavin. However, a number of other male G names are up-and-coming and seem to be on their way to trendy status, such as Gage, Grayson, and Giovanni.

Here are some popular, classic, and unusual baby boy names that start with the letter G.

Popular & Trendy Baby Boy Names That Start With G

Gabriel. Biblical names are hot, and Gabriel is very up-and-coming. Not used frequently in the U.S. in the past, Gabriel ranked at #28 in 2006. Female variants Gabriella and Gabrielle were also trendy. Gabriel comes from a Hebrew name that means "hero of God."
Gavin. Once obscure, this Welsh name ranked at #38 in 2006. Gavin comes from a Welsh name that means "white hawk" or "little falcon."
Garrett & Grant. The G-versions of the last-name-turned-first name craze are moderately popular. In 2006, Garrett ranked at #138, and Grant ranked at #155. Another last-name-turned-first-name, Griffin, ranked lower at #254 but seems to be climbing the charts quickly.
Giovanni. Used rarely in the United States until recently, this Italian version of John ranked at #146 in 2006, and is climbing quickly. Giovanni comes from a Hebrew name that means "God's grace."
Gage. Also an up-and-coming name, Gage ranked at #156 in 2006. Gage comes from a Norman French expression that means "measure."
Grayson. Although only ranked at #218 in 2006, Grayson has been leaping up the charts, and it seems like a good candidate for ultra-trendy status soon. The spelling Greyson is fairly popular as well. If you're looking for a different variation on the "ayden" name trend, try Graydon or Grayden.

Classic Baby Boy names that Start With G

George. A top 10 name between 1880 and 1930, George remained in the top 100 until 1993. Its current association with an unpopular president probably isn't helping its popularity. George comes from a Greek name that means "farmer." The Spanish name Jorge has become more popular than the English version.
Gregory. Gregory rose from obscurity to become hot during the Baby Boom years, and remained popular until the 1980s. At #208 in 2006, Gregory is a falling star, but it's definitely classic enough that it doesn't sound dated. Gregory comes from a Greek name that means "vigilant."
Gerald. Gerald peaked in 1936 at #19, and Jerry was common during the Baby Boom. These days, little boys named Gerry or Jerry are hard to find. Gerald comes from an ancient Germanic name that means "ruling spear."
Gordon. This classic name never has been very popular in the United States. It was somewhat common during the 1930s, but isn't used much at all these days. Gordon comes from a Gaelic expression that means "large fortification."
Gary. During the 1950s and 1960s, Gary became a very trendy name. The actor Gary Cooper helped popularize this name, as did the general preference for casual sounding names during this era. These days, we don't hear much from Gary any more-- or from his Baby Boom brothers Larry or Barry. Gary comes from the same origins as Gerald. Glenn, another mid-century favorite, also has become fairly obscure.

Unusual Baby Boy Names that Start With G

Gustavo, Gilberto, & Guillermo. Spanish names are hot in the U.S., but these G names haven't really caught on-- so snatch them up if you're looking for something different. Gustavo comes from a Germanic name that means "staff of the gods." Gilberto comes from a French name that means "bright promise." Guillermo is Germanic and means "determined protector."
Garrison. This name has two very different pop culture namesakes-- Garrison Keillor from A Prairie Home Companion and Mr. Garrison from South Park. If you like the last-name-turned-first-name craze but want something less common, try Garrison. The name comes from the same origin as Gerald. Two other last-name-turned-first-names that aren't used much are Graham and Gannon.
Gunnar. Used in Scandinavian countries, Gunnar is an Old Norse name meaning "strife." A related Germanic name is Gunther, a name associated mostly with Rachel's unfortunate admirer on Friends.
Gideon. Looking for a Biblical name that's not very popular? Gideon comes from a Hebrew name that means "powerful warrior."