George

Meaning of George

George, pronounced “JORJ,” derives from the ancient Greek Georgios—originally a theophoric epithet meaning “tiller of the soil” or “earth-worker”—and, although agrarian in literal sense, the name’s historical trajectory has been anything but humble, having migrated through Byzantine hagiography, medieval chivalric legend, and modern constitutional history to acquire a layered cultural resonance that few masculine given names can equal. The veneration of the soldier-saint St. George, whose dragon-slaying narrative became a pan-European symbol of valor, anchored the name in Christian liturgical calendars, while the successive reigns of six kings of England and two kings of Greece further institutionalized it within the political lexicon of the Anglophone world. In the United States, the foundational stature of George Washington endowed the name with republican gravitas, a quality later reinforced by presidents George H. W. and George W. Bush, thereby sustaining its association with civic leadership despite gradual shifts in fashion. Statistical evidence confirms this durability: although its national rank has moderated from the lofty Top-50 positions of the mid-20th century to a still-respectable range between 119 and 139 in recent years, annual birth counts consistently register in the low- to mid-thousands, indicating a stable preference that balances tradition with contemporary versatility. Consequently, George occupies a distinctive intersection of pastoral etymology, martial legend, and statesmanlike prestige, rendering it a perennial choice for parents who seek historical depth without sacrificing everyday approachability.

Pronunciation

English

• Pronunced as JORJ (/dʒɔrdʒ/)

• Geoffrey
• Gerard
• Gerald
• Gregory
• Graham
• Grant
• Gordon