Boy Names Starting with G: Grayson and Gates

Boy names starting with G include traditional George and Biblical Gabriel. They’re familiar, handsome choices for our sons.

But the letter also suggests a big number of surname options, from current favorites to rising possibilities.

Rare and overlooked G boy names abound, too.

As of 2021, G represents the fourteenth most popular first initial for boy names. That’s far less popular than chart-topping J or runner-up A. But it’s well ahead of rarities like Q and U.

Speaking of J names, G might feel letter two letters in one, with some hard-G names and others that sound more like a J.

It makes for an appealing list. Read on, and see if your favorite baby boy names beginning with G are here!

G NAMES FOR BOYS IN THE US TOP 1000

GRAYSON (#35)

Grayson followed all the long-a Aidens and ends-with-son names straight up the popularity charts. But it still feels polished and buttoned-up, even as we hear it more and more often.

GABRIEL (#38)

An Old Testament angel’s name, Gabriel feels modern and rooted in tradition. Friendly nickname Gabe is a bonus.

GREYSON (#83)

This the second spelling of the name ranked in the US Top 100. Graysen is also in the Top 1000, making this name sound even more popular than the numbers suggest.

GAEL (#109)

A modern Spanish baby name, Gael sounds like Gale – as in The Hunger Games’ Gale Hawthorne. But the name likely owes its rise to actor Gael Garcia Bernal. (And in Spanish, the ‘ae’ sound makes this a little more like two syllables.)

GIOVANNI (#124)

The Italian equivalent of John, Giovanni is evergreen in Italy. But in the US, it’s only ranked in the Top 1000 consistently since the 1960s. With our appreciation of longer boy names, though, Giovanni and other elaborate Italians could appeal. The single N spelling Giovani is soemtimes seen, too.

GEORGE (#134)

Regal and saintly George has been in the spotlight ever since the British royals welcomed Prince George Alexander Louis in 2013.

GRAHAM (#161)

A straightforward and simple boy name, Scottish import Graham feels both timeless and surprising, a name never in the US Top 100, but still instantly familiar.

GAVIN (#173)

Gawain saved the day in many a medieval tale. The name was revived as Gavin in the 1900s. By the year 2005, it reached the US Top 50, and has only recently started to fall.

GRANT (#212)

There’s something about Grant. Originally a surname name meaning grand or tall, Grant has ranked in the US Top 1000 every year since 1880, but has never made the Top 100. It’s a perfect stands-out, fits-in kind of choice.

GRIFFIN (#232)

A gryphon combines eagle wings with a lion body. But Griffin is a Welsh name meaning prince. It’s a twenty-first century favorite, more popular today than ever before.

GIDEON (#310)

An Old Testament hero name, rising in use again in the twenty-first century.

GUNNER (#324)

From an Old Norse name meaning warrior, it’s traditionally spelled Gunnar. But Gunner makes sense to parents familiar with the military job title.

GIANNI (#390)

The shorter form of Giovanni.

GARRETT (#402)

A 1990s star from the same era as Jared, Garrett never quite caught on. But it did help pave the way for names like Beckett and Everett. The single-T Garret is sometimes seen, too.

GRADY (#428)

A logical successor to Brady, with a great meaning: noble.

GREGORY (#486)

Greg is still hanging out in bell bottom jeans on The Brady Bunch, but Gregory in full sounds rather dashing.

GUNNAR (#540)

The traditional spelling of this name from Old Norse legend, now less popular than the phonetic Gunner.

GERARDO (#565)

The Romance language form of Gerard.

GAGE (#569)

Originally from the same roots as words meaning “to measure,” Gage combines a strong sound with a modern energy.

GUSTAVO (#654)

Another Romance language take on a Norse and Germanic name. Gustav hasn’t appeared in the US Top 1000 since the 1930s.

GREY (#716)

If Grayson and Greyson rank so well, why not just the color name? The “a” spelling ranks higher for Grayson, but in a twist, it’s Grey-with-an-e that fares better. Credit possibly goes to long-time medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, named for lead character Meredith Grey … and the anatomy reference book Gray’s Anatomy.

GATLIN (#776)

A surname turned given name, Gatlin almost certainly owes its increased use to parents’ embrace of names inspired by weapons. In this case, it’s the Gatling gun, named for its inventor. There’s also Gatlinburg, Tennesse, named for Radford Gatlin, who established a general store in the settlement’s early days.

GUILLERMO (#812)

The Spanish form of William, made familiar thanks to Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro.

GARY (#904)

A favorite from the mid-twentieth century, Gary is stuck in style hibernation now, but could very well be back in another few decades.

GORDON (#925)

A Scottish surname long used as a first. Celebrity chef and television personality Gordon Ramsay makes this a household name.

GRAYSEN (#928)

Yet another spelling of this popular choice.

GRANGER (#953)

An appealing English surname option meaning farmer, with a strong connection to the land.

GIAN (#960)

A logical choice in our Giovanni/Gianni moment.

GENESIS (#973)

More popular for girls, but recently gaining in use for boys, too, Genesis comes from the Greek and means “beginning.” That’s reinforced by the Book of Genesis, the very first book in the Old Testament, detailing the creation of the world.

RARE & OVERLOOKED G BOY NAMES

GABLE

As dashing as the Hollywood leading man from a bygone era, Clark Gable.

GADIEL

A Hebrew name meaning “God is my luck.”

GALEN

The name of an influential doctor from the ancient world, Galen’s meaning appeals: calm.

GALILEO

A star-gazing name with a stylish sound.

GALLAGHER

Upbeat Irish surname, in the key of Sullivan.

GARETH

A name borrowed from Arthurian legend, rare – but familiar – today.

GARLAND

A surname long ranked in the US Top 1000, but rare in recent decades.

GARRISON

A subtle twist on Harrison.

GARTH

Norse in origin, Garth signals two things to this generation of parents: Wayne’s World character Garth, or, more likely, country music (and crossover) recording artist Garth Brooks.

GASPAR, GASPARD, GASPARO

This name is more popular as Jasper, and also heard as Casper. The G spelling has history, too, particularly in French, Italian, and Spanish.

GATES

It’s very Bill, but it fits right in with Hayes and Wells.

GATSBY

A surname familiar to all, thanks to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s immortal character.

GENE

Short for Eugene.

GEOFFREY

A medieval favorite, it’s now far more popular spelled Jeffrey with a J.

GERALD

A gentlemanly name from another era, Gerald peaked in the 1930s in the US.

GERVASE and GERVAISE

The Normans brought this sleek name to England, though it’s since become rare. Like many a name starting with ger, it means spear.

GIANCARLO

Combine the Italian forms of John and Carlo, and this is the result.

GIACOMO

An Italian name, Giacomo is the equivalent of James. It’s a logical brother for Giovanni.

GIANLUCA

An Italian double-name, the equivalent of John Luke in English.

GIBSON

Originally given to sons of Gib – Gilbert. Gibson now fits in with Jackson and company.

GILBERT

A Top 100 name in the 1930s, Gilbert is instantly familiar to Anne of Green Gables fans – though it’s recently left the Top 1000.

GILES

Miles-with-a-G, Giles feels British and ever so slightly different.

GINO

An Italian nickname for any name ending with -gio, like Giorgino and Luigino, diminutives of Giorgio and Luigi.

GIO

It might be a modern invention based on Leo for some. But most often, Gio is short for Italian favorites like Giovanni.

GLEN and GLENN

From a Scottish word meaning valley, this nature-inspired choice spiked in use after pioneering astronaut John Glenn walked on the moon.

GODFREY

A medieval import to English by the Normans, Godfrey comes from Germanic elements meaning “god’s peace.” Similar names like Godwin, meaning “friend of God,” are even rarer.

GOLDEN

A color name that implies great value, also sometimes heard as a surname.

GRAYER

Remember hit novel turned movie The Nanny Diaries? The little boy at the center of the plot was Grayer. It sounds like a logical Grayson successor, but remains surprisingly rare.

GROVER

The furry blue Sesame Street character comes to mind, but before that Grover was a president – Cleveland – and referred to a grove of trees. It could be just as wearable as Forrest.

GUS

August and lots of related names, as well as Gustavo, all appear in the US Top 1000. But friendly, casual Gus on its own remains rather rare.

GUTHRIE

A Scottish surname equal parts gruff and cuddly, Guthrie brings to mind father-son folk singers Woody and Arlo.

What are your favorite boy names starting with G?

First published on November 30, 2020, this post was revised and re-posted on December 13, 2021 and again on March 20, 2023.