The first nameGeorge
A boy’s name from Greek meaning “farmer”, “earth worker”, “earth”.
Pronounced /dʒɔːdʒ/ 1 syllable Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Greek origin
George means “farmer”, “earth worker”, “earth” in Greek.
Name of an early saint, from Middle English George, from Latin Geōrgius, from Ancient Greek Γεώργῐος (Geṓrgĭos), from γεωργός (geōrgós, “farmer, earth worker”), from γῆ (gê, “earth”) (combining form γεω- (geō-)) + ἔργον (érgon, “work”) Doublet of Jorge and Geevarghese. The aircraft autopilot sense is probably from George DeBeeson, who patented an early (1931) autopilot system, and/or a reference to the expression let George do it. The Pullman porter sense derives from George Pullman, who hired Black people to staff his sleeping cars, and the patrons of the service seeing the Black people as servants of George Porter, much like how a slave was named after the master.
More names that mean earth.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 3,082 boys were named George, making it the 7th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2016, with 5,263 births (#3).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare George with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named George at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 2,848 boys born in the United States were named George, the 126th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1921, when 27,476 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
George in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named George
1,592 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- George W. Bush43rd President of the United States (2001–2009)
- George WashingtonFounding Father and first U.S. president (1732–1799)
- George OrwellBritish writer and journalist (1903–1950)
- George H. W. Bush41st President of the United States (1989–1993)
- George Frideric HandelGerman-British Baroque composer (1685–1759)
- George EliotEnglish novelist, essayist, poet and journalist (1819–1880)
- George LucasAmerican filmmaker and philanthropist (born 1944)
- George ClooneyAmerican-French actor and filmmaker (born 1961)
- George HarrisonEnglish musician and member of the Beatles (1943–2001)
- George R. R. MartinAmerican writer and television producer (born 1948)
- George MarshallAmerican army officer and statesman (1880–1959)
- George CarlinAmerican stand-up comedian (1937–2008)
More Greek boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name George mean?
- George means “farmer”, “earth worker”, “earth” in Greek.
- What is the origin of the name George?
- Name of an early saint, from Middle English George, from Latin Geōrgius, from Ancient Greek Γεώργῐος (Geṓrgĭos), from γεωργός (geōrgós, “farmer, earth worker”), from γῆ (gê, “earth”) (combining form γεω- (geō-)) + ἔργον (érgon, “work”) Doublet of Jorge and Geevarghese. The aircraft autopilot sense…
- How popular is the name George?
- In 2025, 3,082 boys born in England and Wales were named George, ranking 7th. Its peak was 2016, with 5,263 births.
- What are nicknames for George?
- Common nicknames for George include Georgie, Geordie, Georgy.