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Unisex name · Greek

Greer

Name meaning, origin and popularity

: watchful, alert

Greer is a gender-neutral name that comes from Greek and means "watchful, alert". It is used in Scottish and English.

Meaning
Watchful, alert
Origin
Greek
Gender
Unisex
US rank
#1851 in 2025

Meaning and origin of Greer

As a girl's name, Greer comes from Greek and means "watchful, alert". It is used in Scottish and English.

As a gender-neutral name, Greer comes from Greek and means "watchful, alert". It is used in Scottish and English.

Greer is also a surname: the 596th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 55,088 people. See the most common last names.

Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names

Greer on Nomezo lists

What our editors wrote about Greer on 3 lists.

  • “Watchful, alert; Greek via the Scottish surname Gregor”

    From Gender neutral names, short gender-neutral names

  • “A Scottish surname from Gregor, which means watchful”

    From Highland cattle names, scottish cow names for girls

  • “From the surname Grier, a Scottish short form of Gregor: watchful.”

    From Scottish girl names, scottish place and clan names for girls

How popular is Greer?

In 2025, 108 girls and 29 boys in the US were named Greer.

As a girl’s name

US rank in 2025
#1,851
108 babies, 67 per million girls
Best rank
#1,347 in 1943
Most babies: 108 in 2025
Babies since 1941
At least 3,085
Years with under 5 are not listed
1880s1900s1920s1940s1960s1980s2000s2020s
Babies per million US girls, by decade (the 2020s so far, to 2025). Highest in the 2020s, at 57 per million.
Babies named Greer per million US girls, by decade; highest in the 2020s
1880s0 per million
1890s0 per million
1900s0 per million
1910s0 per million
1920s0 per million
1930s0 per million
1940s12 per million
1950s8 per million
1960s12 per million
1970s11 per million
1980s14 per million
1990s23 per million
2000s24 per million
2010s42 per million
2020s57 per million
US rank by year
Year2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Rank#2,021#2,149#2,152#2,225#2,110#1,997#2,147#2,386#1,984#1,851

As a boy’s name

US rank in 2025
#3,789
29 babies, 17 per million boys
Best rank
#2,269 in 1923
Most babies: 30 in 2023
Babies since 1912
At least 733
Years with under 5 are not listed
1880s1900s1920s1940s1960s1980s2000s2020s
Babies per million US boys, by decade (the 2020s so far, to 2025). Highest in the 2020s, at 15 per million.
Babies named Greer per million US boys, by decade; highest in the 2020s
1880s0 per million
1890s0 per million
1900s0 per million
1910s5 per million
1920s4 per million
1930s2 per million
1940s4 per million
1950s2 per million
1960s1 per million
1970s1 per million
1980s2 per million
1990s3 per million
2000s4 per million
2010s10 per million
2020s15 per million
US rank by year
Year2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Rank#5,197#5,618#3,924#4,854#3,855#4,827#4,906#3,744#4,017#3,789

Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.

Other forms of Greer

The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.

  • GregorWatchful, alert (Greek, boy)
  • GregoryWatchful, alert (Greek, boy)
  • GrigoriosWatchful, alert (Greek, boy)
  • GriogairWatchful, alert (Greek, boy)
  • GrzegorzWatchful, alert (Greek, boy)

Names spelled like Greer

One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.

  • GretaA pearl (Greek, girl)
  • GaberComforter, setter of bones (Arabic, boy)
  • GeirSpear (Old Norse, boy)
  • GretelPearl (Greek, girl)
  • GroverGrove of trees (Old English, boy)

Names with a similar meaning

  • CaseyVigilant, watchful (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
  • GregorioWatchful (Greek, boy)
  • IraWatchful (Hebrew, boy)
  • EranWatchful, vigilant (Hebrew, boy)
  • GréagóirWatchful (Greek, boy)
  • GrégoireWatchful (Greek, boy)
  • GrigoryWatchful (Greek, boy)
  • GrishaShort form of Grigory, watchful (Greek, boy)
  • José GregorioHe will add, watchful (Hebrew and Greek, boy)

Middle names for Greer

Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.

  • AltonTown at a river's source (Old English, boy)
  • BradleyBroad clearing (Old English, boy)
  • BriarThorny shrub (Old English, unisex)
  • DennisOf Dionysus (Greek, boy)
  • EsmeraldaEmerald (Spanish, girl)
  • ForestWoodland (English, boy)
  • RodneyHroda's island (Old English, boy)
  • WestonWest town (Old English, boy)

More names from Greek

  • AlexanderDefender of men (Greek, boy)
  • AlexandraDefender of men (Greek, girl)
  • LucasMan from Lucania (Greek, boy)
  • ChristianFollower of Christ (Greek, boy)
  • ElenaForm of Helen, probably from Greek torch (Greek, girl)
  • IrenePeace, tranquility (Greek, girl)
  • IrisA rainbow (Greek, girl)
  • LeonA lion (Greek, boy)
  • SofiaWisdom, skill (Greek, girl)
  • SophieWisdom, skill (Greek, girl)

Greer: common questions

What does the name Greer mean?

Greer comes from Greek and means "watchful, alert". It also has another origin: the same meaning in another language.

Is Greer a boy or girl name?

Greer is used for both boys and girls. In 2025, 108 girls and 29 boys in the US were named Greer, according to Social Security Administration data.

Where does the name Greer come from?

Greer comes from Greek and means "watchful, alert". Today it is used in Scottish and English.

How popular is the name Greer?

Greer ranked #1,851 in the US in 2025, with 108 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

What are other forms of Greer?

Forms of Greer with the same meaning and origin include Gregor (Scottish), Gregory (English), Grigorios (Greek), Griogair (Scottish) and Grzegorz (Polish).

What middle names go with Greer?

Middle names that flow well with Greer include Alton, Bradley, Briar, Dennis and Esmeralda. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.