Gray leads the pack of possible color names for boys.
Thanks to Leah for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day, and Molly Sims’ new son for inspiring the update.
Gray: A or E?
British English prefers the ‘e’ spelling. Sometime during the nineteenth century, the ‘a’ became standard in American English. By the time the Confederate Army took to the field during the US Civil War, they were “the boys in gray.”
Both spellings have been worn as surnames for generations. Tea drinkers recognize the nineteenth century Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, he of tea. Charles came from a prominent family, served as prime minister of Great Britain. Stories about how the bergamot-flavored tea came to bear his name vary, but the name stuck.
Nineteenth century surgeon Henry Gray compiled the very first edition of Gray’s Anatomy back in 1838. The anatomy textbook remains in print today, currently on the 41st edition.
The long-running television series spells it with an ‘e’, of course – inspired by main character Dr. Meredith Grey.
Gray: Surname Name
In many cases, the surname referred to hair color. Or beard color.
But not always!
Anchetil de Greye traveled to England with William the Conqueror. Greye likely came from the Calvados region of Normandy, from a place known as Graye-sur-Mer. The English village of Rotherfield Greys also bears his name.
The place name seems to come from the Latin gratus – thankful, rather than the color.
Between 1895 and 1901, the ‘a’ spelling appeared in the US Top 1000 a handful of times – just like so many other surnames.
Gray: And Company
A handful of famous figures answer to the name. Former California governor Gray Davis seems like the most well-known. He was born Joseph Graham Davis, Jr.
But the story belongs to names that start with Gray. In 2002, The Nanny Diaries gave us a privileged kid called Grayer. The chart-toppers add the popular -son ending: Grayson ranked #47 in 2015, up more than 200 places in a decade. Greyson’s rise seems even more dramatic, gaining over 450 places to reach #111 over the same time period.
Only in the last few years has Grey caught on. It entered the US Top 1000 in 2013, and now stands at #916.
Gray: By the Numbers
As of 2015, 141 boys and 45 girls received the ‘a’ spelling of the name. The ‘e’ spelling comes out ahead, given to 233 boys and 70 girls.
Count Molly Sims among the most recent moms to embrace the name. She recently welcomed son Grey Douglas, a little brother for Brooks and Scarlett. A few years earlier, Blossom alum Jenna von Oy chose the name – and the ‘a’ spelling – for a daughter.
Gray: Future Favorite?
This name succeeds for so many reasons.
- Links to longer names, like Grayson, explain some of the appeal.
- And of course, parents have embraced short names for boys in recent years. Gray seems less turbo-charged than Jax, yet more slightly traditional than Kai.
- Color names, like Ruby and Violet, feature throughout the girls’ Top 1000. Gray seems a likely choice for boys.
- Speaking of color, while we sometimes use it to describe dreary skies or a less-than-upbeat mood, we also find good in gray. It feels soft, but also steely. It signals a sort of cool, modern sleekness – and also a hand-knit comfort.
One question remains, of course. What will the Fifty Shades franchise do to this name? The character in the book answered to the name Christian Grey – the same spelling currently preferred by parents.
If you’re after a name that combines a certain edge with a traditional vibe, Gray might be the name for you.
Do you prefer the ‘a’ or the ‘e’ spelling? Would you rather use Greyson or Grayer or Grady or any other name besides just plain Gray? Or do you like it short and sweet?
This post first appeared on July 13, 2010. Following substantial revision, it was reposted on January 25, 2017.
I’m not particularly keen on Grey et all as given names, but they are a welcome relief to the Jaydons that appear to be running amok in my neighbourhood, cute kids though they may be. I came across a Graydon at the playground the other day. It was the first time I’d encountered the name in real life. I have, however, already met a few little girl Gracyns (spelt a variety of ways).
Well, I have a different POV on some of these names! My sister’s name is Grayson-born in 1984. My mom was definitely ahead of the surname and androgynous curves! Anyway, Grayson hated her name for a long time because it was a boy name, came to love it because it was distinctive, and now has a problem with it again because of the MILLIONS of little Graysons out there! She even has a “namesake” cousin named Gracen. Horrors!
As to Gray, the only little one I know is actually a 2 yr old girl. It’s a family name.
I
My hairdresser in Virginia named her son Gracen. “It’s, um, Grace with an N on it, because I love the bame Grace.” Envision (Enhear? Haha) heavy southern accent. Can’t say I’m a fan. Surname names just sound pretentious to me, more so when the surname in question isn’t a family name. However, I like it as a middle to an ultra-feminine name: Clara Grey, Anastasia Grey, for instance.
That reminds me, Abby, can you do Anastasia as a BNotD? Or have you already? I’m too lazy to look it up. 😉
*name, not bame. I’m typing one-handed while nursing the baby. Forgive me.
Thank you for covering Gray! As a nn for Grady, it is at the top of my list for boys. On my mom’s side of the family, Grady has been used three times as a first name and once as a middle name. I didn’t know that Grady was Celtic, but that makes sense, as my mom’s family is partly Irish.
I grew up in Grayson County, so that also may explain why I’m comfortable with Gray.
In the movie The Pelican Brief, Denzel Washington played a reporter named Gray Grantham. There’s also Gandalf the Grey in The Lord of the Rings. I like the idea of Gray as a given name, but it seems best as a “character name”. In my mind, that’s a name which is always said in full,
I actually quite like Gray. Strong and handsome.
Gray is in my Top ten list of boy names. I love it!
In elementary school, I was friends with a boy named Gr@y R@ins! I don’t think Gray was his given name, but I can’t remember for the life of me what Gray was a nn for. I didn’t realize until I was older the imagery suggested by his name. Some people might see it as a negative, but he wore it really well!
I suppose Lurker Week is a good time for me to comment, seeing as how I haven’t commented in probably a half year or so (and my commenting was really sparse anyway)!
I actually like Grey/Gray (I spell it Grey) a lot.I also like names with a similar sound such as Graeme/Grahame(not said like ‘gram’) and Grady. Grey/Greyson are both very pleasant and it has warm sound to me, ironically.What does put me off Grey, is that I generally don’t view things associated with greyness as positive . I.e. grey hair (though in some religions it’s viewed as a sign of wisdom) or living the grey, as in being lukewarm etc Another association is that of one of the cold ( I HATE the cold) and grey skies. So, while I like the sound and think that it’d work wonderfully on many different types of people and ages , my associations are mainly negative which stops me from personally considering it. That said, I’d love to meet a Grey and do think it is a nice name
I was thinking the same thing – the negative associations of the colour great kill the name for me. It’s a little too depressing of a colour.
I do like Graham / Graeme though too, pronounced like “Grey-um”.
I have met a toddler Greyson. My husband nicknamed him Greyskull as in He-Man (not to the child’s face).
Ditto Graeme/Grahame pronunciation.
Another name that I ADORE the sound of, but the connotation ruins it for me is Harper. A harper can be someone who harps on problems. I’ve already had a Mona in the family tree who was a Moaner, so I’m too scared to try my luck ;(
As if on cue, there’s a great article on Babble.com today, by Babble co-founder Rufus Griscom: https://www.babble.com/mom/health-and-relationships/parents-are-happy/
It’s a response to the New York Magazine article insisting that parenting is (mostly) misery-inducing drudgery. But it also mentions that Griscom’s two sons are called Declan and Grey.
If you are a parent, you’ll thoroughly enjoy Griscom’s thoughtful response. And if you’re just here for the names, well – Declan and Grey are certainly quite the impressive sibset!