What Does Gregory Mean In the Bible?

Last updated on January 13th, 2023 at 09:41 pm

What Does Gregory Mean In the Bible?

Names can differ in meaning and significance depending upon a few factors, such as the culture in which a baby is named, or the religion that the name comes from.

These names can be a powerful way to connect to one’s culture, geographic location, or religion. One example of a name that has a special significance is the name Gregory in Christianity.

Interestingly, it does not appear in the text of the Bible, but it still has importance in Christianity. Read on to learn more about the meaning of the name Gregory, as well as its connection to the Christian Bible. 

Meaning of the Name Gregory

The name Gregory is not technically seen in the Bible, but it still does have a correlation to Christianity and to the text of the Bible, too. The name itself comes from a Greek word.

The word “gregorius” comes from the original Greek word “gregorein”. Gregorien means “to be awake to be watchful”. The name Gregory, then, pulls its meaning from this root word. Gregory means “watchful”. It can also be interpreted to mean “vigilant”, “awake”, or “alert”.

This is related to its implementation in Christianity, which we will discuss in more detail below. The meaning of the name Gregory is what we can attribute its popularity to in Christianity and in our culture today.

This name can also be interpreted to mean “watchman” or “a watchman”, which is similar to its meaning of “watchful” or “vigilant”, as these are characteristics that a watchman should have! Read on to learn more about the name Gregory and its significance within Christianity and in relation to the text of the Bible, too. 

Significance of the Name Gregory

Of course, the name Gregory has its own special significance in religion, just as it has its own meaning, too. As we mentioned above, Gregory means “vigilant”, “watchful”, or “alert”. However, it is not a name that appears directly in the text of the Bible, though it is widely known to be a common Christian name.

You may be wondering, then, how the name got to be so popular in Christianity and what its connection to the religion is, if it is not technically a biblical name. Essentially, it all comes down to the meaning of the name itself. Gregory was introduced into the Christian religion because of an important Bible verse.

This verse was 1 Peter 5:8. It says “Be sober-minded, be watchful”, and the meaning of the name Gregory is “watchful” or “a watchman”.

The name was connected to the text in this way, and Christians began to take the name or give it to their children. It rose in popularity and is still a fairly classic and popular name to this day, which we will go over further below. 

Name History of the Name Gregory 

Now, last but not least, we come to discuss the history of this great name in more detail.

Of course, once it was connected to 1 Peter 5:8 and came to be considered a Christian name, it began to get more popular all over the world as the Christian religion spread further and the faith was adopted by more people.

Saint Gregory, who was also known as Saint Gregory the Great, also contributed to the popularity of the name as families named their sons after the great saint. In the 1950s, the actor Gregory Peck helped to usher in a new wave of baby boys named Gregory, too, as he was a popular figure of the time.

At this time, Gregory rose to be in the top 10 boys’ names and has continued to be popular to this day, too. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the full meaning of Gregory?

The name Gregory is a name that comes from the Greek word “gregorius”, or “gregorein”, meaning “to be awake to be watchful”. The name Gregory, then, pulls its meaning from this word.

Gregory means “watchful”. It also means “vigilant”, and it is a name that has been given to many monks and Christians throughout the years. 

What is the Hebrew meaning of Gregory?

Gregory is a name that comes from the Greek language, being pulled from the original word “gregorein” and the word “gregorius” that comes from the original “gregorein”. In Hebrew, as well as just in general when pulled from the Greek, Gregory means “awake”, “watchful”, or “alert”.

Gregory was a popular name in the Middle Ages for Christians, too, and it can be still seen to this day, though it is not quite as popular as it once was. There is also a Saint Gregory, which can account for some of the popularity of the name within Christianity. 

Is the name Greg in the Bible?

The name Gregory is not found in the text of the Christian Bible. However, that does not mean that the name does not have its place in Christianity!

It was a name adopted with a particular verse of the Bible in mind — 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober-minded, be watchful”. This is because of the meaning of the name Gregory, as the name means “watchful” and “vigilant”. Many Christians and many monks took the name Gregory or gave it to their children. In addition, there is even a Saint Gregory who converted the pagan Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. 

Is Gregory a rare name?

Gregory was not a very common name in the 20th century. That being said, it was an old name and was popular in the Middle Ages, especially among those of the Christian faith.

The actor Gregory Peck also revitalized the name and made it popular in the 1950s again. After his success, the name Gregory grew to be one of the 10 most popular names for baby boys.

Ever since it has remained popular. Saint Gregory is another reason that the name has been popular, as the more faithful among us may have named their sons after him, too. 

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About the author

Lucas is a former worship pastor and Hillsong College graduate (2005). He has spoken at churches, conferences and worship events and loves inspiring people to be more than just a Sunday service-goer. He founded 15 Degrees NE and is one of our leading authors.

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