Garrison

Meaning of Garrison

Garrison rises from the old English patronymic “son of Garret,” yet its cadence echoes even farther back, to the medieval Latin garrisona, a word of ramparts and steadfast sentries, so the name carries twin legacies: the brave spear of Gerard’s line and the guardian walls that shield a city’s dreaming heart. In story-like fashion, he steps onto life’s stage as a quiet sentinel—firm yet kind—offering those around him a sense of refuge, the way sun-warmed stone retains daylight for the evening traveler. Parents who choose Garrison often feel drawn to its fusion of softness and strength: the lyrical flow of its four syllables balanced by images of fortitude, honor, and enduring loyalty. From abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison to modern storyteller Garrison Keillor, the name threads through history with purposeful grace, reminding each new bearer that courage can be gentle and protection can be poetic.