Grady

♀ Girl

Pronounced GRAY-dee /ˈɡreɪ.di/High

Meaning: From the Irish surname Ó Grádaigh, 'descendant of Gráda,' tied to the word grádha, 'noble; illustrious.' Long a boys' name; used here for a girl, which we note.Medium

In 30 seconds: A bright Irish surname-name: Grady means 'noble; illustrious' (said 'GRAY-dee'). More often a boy's name — we note the lean.

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Origin MediumIrish

MeaningFrom the Irish surname Ó Grádaigh, 'descendant of Gráda,' tied to the word grádha, 'noble; illustrious.' Long a boys' name; used here for a girl, which we note.

U.S. rank (2024)#12578 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1926

Total births (all-time)≈ 731

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Grady comes from the Irish surname Ó Grádaigh, rooted in grádha, 'noble; illustrious,' carried from Ireland into first-name use. As a girl's name it is rare and reads as a modern surname pick; far more often a boy's name, which we note (said 'GRAY-dee').

For girls it appears only rarely in the U.S., against much heavier boys' use. Rare, surname-style, and warm.

Did you know? Grady began as the Irish surname O Grady, 'descendant of the noble one.' It's overwhelmingly a boys' name, though it turns up now and then for girls — which we note (said 'GRAY-dee').

Overall data confidence 55%

References — Grady — Irish surname O Gradaigh 'noble'; cross-sex, boy-leaning

Variations

GradeyGradeeBradey

Nicknames

GrayDee

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Grady…

Brady— a like Irish surname-name in sound

Cassidy— a like Irish surname pick used for girls

Cody— echoes that soft -dy sound

Kody— echoes that soft -dy sound

Kassidy— a fellow Irish choice

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Grady mean?

Grady is an Irish surname, 'descendant of the noble one,' rooted in grada, 'noble; illustrious,' now used as a first name.

How do you pronounce Grady?

It's said GRAY-dee /ˈɡreɪ.di/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Grady a boy or girl name?

Grady is used for both, but far more often for boys — we note the lean.

How popular is Grady?

Grady is rare for girls in the U.S. and more common for boys.