Grady

♂ Boy

Pronounced GRAY-dee /ˈɡreɪ.di/High

Meaning: Anglicization of the Irish Gaelic surname O Graidaigh, from 'grade' (noble, illustrious) — meaning 'son of the noble one' or 'descendant of the distinguished one'.High

In 30 seconds: Grady is a distinguished Irish surname name meaning 'noble' — warm, unpretentious, and classically American. It has a Southern-flavored charm alongside its Celtic roots, making it a name that feels both old and fresh.

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Origin HighIrish Gaelic

MeaningAnglicization of the Irish Gaelic surname O Graidaigh, from 'grade' (noble, illustrious) — meaning 'son of the noble one' or 'descendant of the distinguished one'.

U.S. rank (2025)#373 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births851 boys (0.05% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2008

Total births (all-time)≈ 52,470

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Grady is the anglicization of the Irish Gaelic surname O Graidaigh, meaning 'descendant of Grade'. The root grade in Irish means noble or illustrious. The O'Grady clan was prominent in County Tipperary and other parts of Munster in Ireland. Like many Irish surnames, Grady began crossing to use as a given name in the United States during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Grady has been used as a given name in the American South since the nineteenth century, associated with Henry Grady (1850–1889), the Atlanta Constitution editor and orator who coined the phrase 'the New South'. As a first name, Grady has a warm, folksy character appreciated in Southern American naming culture. It has been growing nationally since the 2000s, entering the top 300 boys' names.

Did you know? The famous caretaker character Jack Nicholson encounters in The Shining is named Delbert Grady — a name chosen by Stanley Kubrick specifically for its old-fashioned, slightly uncanny Americanness — giving Grady an unexpectedly gothic literary dimension.

Overall data confidence 87%

MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland — Irish Gaelic etymology of O GraidaighSocial Security Administration Name Data — US popularity trends for Grady

Variations

GraidyGradey

Nicknames

GrayGrade

Famous Bearers

★Henry W. Grady (1850–1889)
American journalist and orator, editor of the Atlanta Constitution, known for the 'New South' speeches.

If you like Grady…

Brady— two-syllable Irish surname name with the same warm, American quality and overlapping -ady sound

Casey— two-syllable Irish surname name with the same All-American friendly character

Cody— two-syllable Irish-American surname name with the same relaxed, Southern-Western appeal

Frequently Asked

What does the name Grady mean?

Grady means 'noble' or 'distinguished', from the Irish Gaelic O Graidaigh (descendant of the noble one).

How do you pronounce Grady?

Grady is pronounced GRAY-dee (/ˈɡreɪ.di/), two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Grady a boy or girl name?

Grady is predominantly a boy's name.

How popular is Grady?

Grady has entered the US top 300 boys' names and is growing, particularly in the American South, where it has been used as a given name since the nineteenth century.