Unisex name · Greek
Greer
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: watchful, alertGreer 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
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 12 per million |
| 1950s | 8 per million |
| 1960s | 12 per million |
| 1970s | 11 per million |
| 1980s | 14 per million |
| 1990s | 23 per million |
| 2000s | 24 per million |
| 2010s | 42 per million |
| 2020s | 57 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 5 per million |
| 1920s | 4 per million |
| 1930s | 2 per million |
| 1940s | 4 per million |
| 1950s | 2 per million |
| 1960s | 1 per million |
| 1970s | 1 per million |
| 1980s | 2 per million |
| 1990s | 3 per million |
| 2000s | 4 per million |
| 2010s | 10 per million |
| 2020s | 15 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.

