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The short answer
George is a masculine name of Greek origin meaning "farmer, earthworker". Behind the Name traces it to the Greek name Georgios, from georgos ("farmer"), built from ge ("earth") and ergon ("work"). It spread through Saint George, a 3rd-century Roman soldier from Cappadocia who was martyred under Diocletian and later credited in legend with killing a dragon; he became the patron of England, Portugal, Catalonia and Aragon. Behind the Name notes that the name was rarely used in England until the German-born George I took the British throne in the 18th century, after which five more British kings bore it. In the United States it ranked #126 for boys in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives George as "from the Greek name Γεώργιος (Georgios), which was derived from the Greek word γεωργός (georgos) meaning 'farmer, earthworker', itself derived from the elements γῆ (ge) meaning 'earth' and ἔργον (ergon) meaning 'work'". The entry ties the name's spread to Saint George, "a 3rd-century Roman soldier from Cappadocia who was martyred during the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian", whose dragon legend was a frequent subject of medieval art. According to Behind the Name, the saint "was primarily revered by Eastern Christians" at first; returning crusaders carried his story to Western Europe, where he became patron of England, Portugal, Catalonia and Aragon. Even so, the name "was rarely used in England until the German-born George I came to the British throne in the 18th century", and five subsequent British kings have borne it. Behind the Name also names two kings of Greece, the composer George Frideric Handel, George Washington, the explorer George Vancouver, and the pen names George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) and George Orwell (Eric Arthur Blair). The name is also used by Christians in India, notably Saint Thomas Christians in Kerala, in the Malayalam spelling ജോർജ്ജ് (Jōrjj). Behind the Name lists English, Romanian and Indian (Christian) usage, with Gheorghe as the Romanian variant.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Greek | Georgios (Γεώργιος) | from georgos, 'farmer, earthworker' |
| Greek | ge (γῆ) | earth |
| Greek | ergon (ἔργον) | work |
Popularity
George ranked #126 for boys in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration). Behind the Name records that the name was rare in England until the Hanoverian George I in the 18th century; no British or other national rankings were consulted for this draft.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #126 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Geordie, Georgie, Jordie, Jordy
Variants: Gheorghe
Related names: Georgia, Georgina, Georgiana, Georgette, Jorge, Giorgio, Georges, Georg, Jürgen, Jerzy, Jiří, György, Yuri, Jordi, Joris
What the name feels like
George is a one-syllable royal classic: plain, solid and hard to date. It carries the weight of kings, a patron saint and a founding president without sounding grand, and it takes affectionate short forms such as Georgie and Geordie easily.
Style tags: classic, royal, saint's name, one syllable, traditional
Editorial interpretation: These style impressions and the name suggestions below are editorial opinion, not linguistic fact. The nicknames listed are the English diminutives given by Behind the Name; the related names are a selection from its feminine forms and other-language forms.
If you like this name
Other forms of George, and traditional classics with a similar standing.
Similar by meaning
Similar by style
Similar by sound
- Jordan
- Jory
- Joris
Frequently asked questions
What does the name George mean?
George means "farmer" or "earthworker". It comes from the Greek name Georgios, from georgos, which combines ge ("earth") and ergon ("work").
Who was Saint George?
According to Behind the Name, Saint George was a 3rd-century Roman soldier from Cappadocia martyred under Emperor Diocletian. Later legends describe him defeating a dragon, and he became the patron saint of England, Portugal, Catalonia and Aragon.
Is George a popular name?
George ranked #126 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are nicknames for George?
Behind the Name lists Geordie, Georgie, Jordie and Jordy as English diminutives of George.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name George — supports etymology, Saint George, use in England from George I, famous bearers, diminutives, feminine forms, other-language forms, Indian Christian usage.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
