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Gregor

♂ Boy

Pronounced GREH-gor /ˈɡrɛ.ɡɔr/High

Meaning: A German, Scottish, and Slavic form of Gregory, from the Greek Gregorios, 'watchful; vigilant' (gregorein, 'to be awake'). Borne by Gregor Mendel, the friar whose pea plants founded genetics, and by Kafka's Gregor Samsa.Medium

In 30 seconds: A watchful name: Gregor is a form of Gregory, Greek for 'vigilant' (said 'GREH-gor'). Sturdy and old-world.

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Origin HighGreek, Scottish, German

MeaningA German, Scottish, and Slavic form of Gregory, from the Greek Gregorios, 'watchful; vigilant' (gregorein, 'to be awake'). Borne by Gregor Mendel, the friar whose pea plants founded genetics, and by Kafka's Gregor Samsa.

U.S. rank (2023)#10087 ↘ Falling

2023 U.S. births7 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1962

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,204

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

Gregor is the German, Scottish, and Slavic form of Gregory, from the Greek Gregorios, 'watchful; vigilant' — a name much used by early Christian saints and popes, who took it as a call to spiritual alertness. Two very different bearers give it colour: Gregor Mendel, the Augustinian friar whose experiments founded genetics, and Gregor Samsa, the hero of Kafka's Metamorphosis. Rare in the U.S. (said 'GREH-gor').

It appears rarely in the U.S., more familiar in Europe. Rare, sturdy, and old-world.

Did you know? Gregor means 'watchful; vigilant' — and it was borne by Gregor Mendel, whose pea plants founded the science of genetics, as well as by Kafka's unfortunate Gregor Samsa (said 'GREH-gor').

Overall data confidence 68%

References — Gregor — Greek Gregorios 'watchful'; Gregor Mendel; Kafka's Gregor Samsa

Variations

GregoryGrigorGrzegorz

Nicknames

GregGor

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Gregor…

Gregory— the English form of the same name

Viktor— a like European -or classic

Anders— a like sturdy European name

Fedor— another Greek name

Hector— another classic pick

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Gregor mean?

Gregor is a form of Gregory, from the Greek Gregorios, 'watchful; vigilant.'

How do you pronounce Gregor?

It's said GREH-gor /ˈɡrɛ.ɡɔr/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Gregor a boy or girl name?

Gregor is a boy's name.

How popular is Gregor?

Gregor is rare in the U.S. and more common in Europe.