The nameGeorge
George is a boy's name of Greek origin meaning "farmer". Carried by saints and kings, it is one of the great classic English names and a favourite in England and Wales.
- Boy's name
- Greek
- Feast day
Meaning
George comes from the Greek Georgios, from georgos, "farmer, earth worker", itself from ge, "earth", and ergon, "work".
Origin
Greek. The cult of Saint George, the soldier martyr who slays the dragon in legend, spread across Europe during the Crusades, and he became the patron saint of England.
History
Six British kings have been called George, from George I in 1714 to George VI, and Prince George of Wales was born in 2013. In the United States George was among the top ten boys' names from 1880 to 1937. In England and Wales it reached second place in 2018, 2019 and 2020 and was still in the top ten in 2025.
Did you know?
- George Orwell was a pen name: the author of Nineteen Eighty-Four was called Eric Blair.
- The state of Georgia is named after King George II.
Famous people named George
- George Washington, first president of the United States
- George Eliot, novelist (pen name of Mary Ann Evans)
- George Orwell, writer
- George Harrison, musician
- George Clooney, actor
Popularity of the name George
George in the United States
George was most popular in the United States in the 1920s, with 264,006 births over the decade, 18% of all recorded babies named George. Half of all babies named George in the United States were born before 1938, although it is popular again today. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 2,761 births a year.
George in the United Kingdom
George was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 47,848 births over the decade, 39% of all recorded babies named George. Half of all babies named George in the United Kingdom were born before 2011, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 3,687 births a year on average, against 4,936 in the five years before.
George in Ireland
George in France
George in Belgium
Variants and related names
Sibling names for George
Names from the same generation as George, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named George? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare George with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of George side by side with the name of your choice.
George in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name George mean?
George comes from the Greek Georgios, from georgos, "farmer, earth worker", itself from ge, "earth", and ergon, "work".
What is the origin of the name George?
Greek. The cult of Saint George, the soldier martyr who slays the dragon in legend, spread across Europe during the Crusades, and he became the patron saint of England.
Is George a girl's or a boy's name?
George is a boy's name.
How popular is the name George?
In 2024, George was the 123rd most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 2,890 births.
What are the variants of the name George?
Variants and related names of George include Georgette, Georgia, Georgina, Joran, Jordy, Joris, Jory and Jorys.
What are good sibling names for George?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Lydia, Ariana, Selena and Melanie for a sister, Nicolas, Luke, Angelo and Peter for a brother.
Who are famous people named George?
George Washington, first president of the United States; George Eliot, novelist (pen name of Mary Ann Evans); George Orwell, writer; George Harrison, musician.