Baby Name of the Day: Greer

The baby name Greer started out as a surname before Hollywood put it in lights.

Thanks to Elizabeth for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.

WHAT DOES THE NAME GREER MEAN?

The Greek gregoros means watchful. It’s the root of Gregory, a name worn by saints in the third and fourth centuries, as well as sixth century Pope Gregory the Great.

Doubtless that’s why the name was so widely used over the centuries. It’s tried and true, a traditional choice for sons. Greg Brady makes it feel slightly dated now, but only slightly.

Greer and Grier emerged as contracted forms of Gregory in Scotland. From there, it became most common as a surname.

GREER GARSON

Eileen Evelyn Greer Garson Fogelson dropped three of her five names when she became an actress. As Greer Garson, she’d rack up seven Academy Award nominations, including one win for Best Actress in 1942’s Mrs. Miniver.

Ms. Garson’s stage name was actually her mother’s maiden name.

While the name was rare for boys prior to the 1940s, it was heard occasionally, likely a family surname promoted to given name status.

Then came the actress, and a handful of girls were also given the name. By 1943, 37 newborn girls were named Greer. But it never quite caught on.

GREER ON THE FRINGES

The baby name Greer remained on the fringes for much of the 20th century. 

Notable bearers of the name include:

• Australian-born writer Germaine Greer. Her first book, The Female Eunuch, was published in 1970, and became an international bestseller. She’s been a controversial, headline-generating thinker, particularly on issues around feminism and gender, ever since.
• Also known as Cat, Greer Stevens is a retired tennis player. She and partner Bob Hewitt won mixed doubles at Wimbledon and the US Open in the 1970s.
• 1958-born artist Greer Lankton was known for creating installations featuring strange, lifelike dolls.

And then the baby name Greer became an occasional celebrity choice.

Actor Kelsey Grammer, best known as long-running character Frasier Crane, welcomed a daughter named Kandace Greer Grammer in 1992. She’s always been known by her middle name, inspired by Greer Garson. 

Several Grammer family members use their middles rather than their first names, including Kelsey. (His first name? Allen.) And they’re big on gender-neutral names, too. Greer’s older half-sister is Spencer and a younger half-sister is Mason. 

Greer Grammer is now an actress herself, appearing on MTV’s Awkward and even playing Roz’s daughter, Alice, in the 2020s Frasier reboot. 

Brooke Shields is also mom to a Grier. She welcomed daughter Grier Hammond with filmmaker Chris Henchy in 2006. The couple are also parents to daughter Rowan Francis.

HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME GREER?

From Garson to Grammer, nearly every familiar bearer of the name today is female. The numbers reflect this. 

• In 2024, 99 girls were given the baby name Greer, along with 27 boys.
• Spelling Grier was used for 18 girls and 8 boys in 2024.

It remains a relatively unique name, even in our age of Harper, Quinn, and Grace.

WEARABLE RARITY

The baby name Greer emerges as a stand-out choice. Compared to current favorites like Sophia, Mia, and Amelia, Greer has teeth. 

That can be a bonus. Names like Ruth, Astrid, Meredith, and Frances contrast with liquid names like Luna, Maya, and Leilani. There’s space for both styles in the 21st century, but those smooth favorites have dominated for years. 

It’s also possible Greer could make a comeback for our sons. While the numbers aren’t there, it’s an established surname. Those tend to be unisex by definition. And gender-neutral naming is increasingly the norm.

Still, Greer Garson casts a long shadow. Even though she’s no longer a household name in the same way Audrey Hepburn or Marilyn Monroe might be, it’s a good reference point for a child’s name. After all, Ava and Harlow benefit from a vague sense of vintage Hollywood glamour, too. 

Overall, Greer might be the perfect name for parents seeking a distinctive choice with a strong sound and long history, too. 

What do you think of the baby name Greer? 

First published January 6, 2016, this post was revised on October 27, 2025.