MallowbyNames

Grace

GRAYSS · From the English word grace, from Latin gratia ('favor, charm, thanks'), adopted by the Puritans as a virtue name.

2025 rank (girls)
#38
Babies named in 2025
5,127
Peak popularity
1890
2025 frequency
1 in 313 girls
Usually for
Girls
Trend
Declining since 2003

Declining since 2003, #38 for girls today.

Popularity of Grace since 1880

Babies named Grace per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2003, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Grace's real moment was 1890.

4.3k8.5k12.8k1880192019602000Most births 2003Girls
Data table (by decade)
DecadeGirls
1880s15,227
1890s23,804
1900s26,927
1910s57,973
1920s60,060
1930s31,357
1940s19,370
1950s15,929
1960s11,213
1970s6,096
1980s11,796
1990s39,872
2000s110,720
2010s73,058
2020s31,533

Meaning & origin

Grace has managed something few names do: two distinct golden ages more than a century apart. Its all-time peak in federal records came in 1890, when it was a fixture of Victorian nurseries; after a long midcentury retreat it surged back through the 1990s and has spent the years since 2003 in a slow, dignified glide.

The 2025 numbers still put it among the country's favorites, No. 38, with about one in every 313 girls receiving the name. Its strongest states are Maine, New Hampshire, and Alaska, giving the name a distinctly northern accent.

Part of Grace's durability is its double life: it may be the single most reliable middle name in American girl-naming, yet it never reads as filler up front. The Puritan virtue name, the Grace Kelly glamour, and the plain English word all pull in the same direction, brevity with weight.

Grace comes from Latin gratia, favor, goodwill, charm, by way of Old French. As a given name it was popularized by the seventeenth-century Puritans, for whom it referred to divine grace, God's unearned favor, rather than physical gracefulness. The name became a Victorian mainstay on both sides of the Atlantic; in American federal records it peaked in 1890. After a long midcentury fade it came roaring back in the 1990s, lifted by its simplicity and by the enduring glamour of Grace Kelly, and it has spent the twenty-first century comfortably inside the top 50, easing gradually since 2003.

Read more: Grace on Wikipedia

Where Grace is most popular

Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.

2020s
Fewermore per 100k girlstoo few births

Grace” around the world

Where Grace lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.

  • France

    60

    babies in 2024

  • Ireland

    #4

    in 2025

  • New Zealand

    #21

    in 2025

  • Quebec

    18

    babies in 2025

  • Australia (NSW)

    #11

    in 2025

Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec) · NSW Registry of BDM (Australia (NSW)).

Nicknames & variants

Nicknames: Gracie

Variants: Gracie, Grazia, Graciela, Gracelyn

Famous people named Grace

  • Grace Kelly · Academy Award-winning actress who became Princess of Monaco
  • Grace Hopper · computer science pioneer and US Navy rear admiral
  • Grace Jones · Jamaican-born singer, model, and actress

Sibling names for Grace

Names that share Grace's style, for a brother or sister.

Sisters: Claire, Anna, Faith, Lily, Charlotte, Abigail, Emily, Emma, Hannah, Adelaide, Allie, Ann, Annabelle, April, Aubrey, Audrey, Blanche, Brooke, Callie, Caroline, Chasity, Clare, Constance, Dawn, Eliza, Ellen, Emilee, Eva, Eve, Evie, Genesis, Hope, Isabel, Isabelle, Jennie, Joy, Joyce, June, Kate, Kay, Louise, Mae, Miracle, Molly, Paige, Robin, Sally, Serenity, Summer, Trinity, Abbe, Abbey, Abbie, Abigale, Aileen, Allene, Alyse, Annabel, Annalee, Annalyse, Audree, Audry, Belle, Cassy, Charisma, Charity, Charm, Chastity, Cherish, Chloee, Desire, Dream, Easter, Elle, Fanny, Fay, Felicity, Gay, Halle, Hanah, Hanna, Harmony, Hellen, Joi, Justice, Justina, Laney, Libby, Liberty, Lilliann, Liz, Love, Maddison, Maggie, Maisie, Margot, Maryanne, May, Meg, Melani, Memory, Mercy, Noelle, Patience, Precious, Promise, Prudence, Queen, Robbin, Rosemarie, Temperance, Tess, Treasure, Addy, Aime, Alise, Alys, Amee, Amity, Ammy, Anabell, Annabeth, Annah, Annalynn, Anny, Bell, Blessing, Blessyn, Bliss, Cady, Cammie, Cate, Charis, Charita, Cloe, Emme, Fate, Fayth, Female, Freedom, Gerrie, Glory, Halee, Honesty, Honor, Joye, Jozie, Jubilee, Justyce, Lady, Lilyanne, Lovely, Lu, Madelin, Madelyne, Maryan, Marykate, Maryn, Maycie, Maye, Myracle, Nazareth, Neely, Nicol, Olene, Praise, Temple, Tommi, Torie, Trinitee, Verity, Victory, Adelynne, Adore, Alie, Alis, Allure, Amour, Angell, Beautiful, Beauty, Bethlehem, Blessin, Chapel, Char, Charlea, Chasiti, Clarie, Clarity, Delight, Divinity, Ellanor, Elyce, Emillie, Epiphany, Faithe, Faithlyn, Favor, Favour, Faythe, Forever, Fortune, Francies, Glee, Glori, Happy, Helaina, Janney, Jenne, Joice, Katye, Lilee, Lillee, Lilybeth, Lively, Lovette, Maddelyn, Maebell, Maggi, Matty, Mckennah, Merci, Mercie, Merit, Modesty, Nance, Natalyn, Nelli, Noeli, Noell, Noely, Peace, Pheobe, Pleasant, Pollyanna, Providence, Remedy, Renesmae, Rosaleigh, Rosaly, Rosary, See, Serinity, Sister, Sophy, Spirit, Tamsen, Abrie, Adelaine, Alisse, Allice, Allisen, Allyce, Amazing, Anabeth, Annamary, Annlee, Blessed, Blessen, Blessings, Calvary, Caress, Cathe, Chariti, Charlei, Chassie, Cherity, Christana, Christe, Elain, Emmakate, Emmalie, Envy, Evvie, Gift, Glorie, Glorious, Gloris, Hallelujah, Hanny, Hendy, Holy, Honest, Honour, Jaine, Jessamy, Joyanna, Jullie, Katti, Klair, Konstance, Lace, Lillien, Madaleine, Maddelynn, Madelein, Maecy, Maie, Marymargaret, Mirakle, Noela, Pal, Prudy, Purity, Purpose, Rachyl, Rejoice, Rosely, Sadey, Sharlie, Tabbitha, Tessy, Trinitie, Truly, Virgin, Wonder, Worthy, Annebelle, Edye, Emmajo, Honestii, Ninamarie, Abbagale, Abbee, Agape, Annaleese, Annely, Believe, Bellarae, Blessence, Chairty, Charidy, Charitie, Chassity, Chloeann, Christna, Comfort, Eliz, Elleen, Ellierose, Ellizabeth, Ellyce, Eveleigh, Fayne, Francys, Glorya, Haly, Happiness, Harmoney, Hopelynn, Hopie, Imagine, Innocence, Joyous, Justise, Karess, Kateline, Kaytlen, Kitti, Laetitia, Laurey, Leanor, Libbey, Lissy, Loie, Luxury, Maddeline, Marri, Maty, Molleigh, Morning, Noele, Novice, Prayer, Pretty, Promiss, Prue, Savhanna, Sincerity, Success, Temprance, Temprence, Trinaty, Trinty, Victora

Brothers: Henry, Owen, Samuel, Jack, Luke, Alec, Andy, Angel, Beau, Ben, Bryce, Cary, Chance, Chase, Clarence, Clay, Cole, Dalton, Dave, Drew, Eddie, Elliot, Evan, Grant, Harrison, Hugh, Jess, Lance, Marshall, Max, Maxwell, Noel, Ross, Sam, Spencer, Ted, Tom, Wesley, Allan, Anson, Barret, Beckett, Benny, Bradford, Brice, Brock, Caine, Carlton, Chas, Chistopher, Clark, Clement, Cliff, Cliffton, Clint, Coleman, Creed, Cristopher, Davis, Deacon, Drake, Duke, Early, Ed, Eddy, Eliot, Ford, Fran, Freddy, Freeman, Griffin, Hal, Hanson, Hardy, Harmon, Harris, Infant, Joesph, Justis, Justus, Keaton, Kole, Little, Loyal, Lucky, Mac, Mitch, Ned, Noble, Perry, Quentin, Quenton, Rance, Reed, Robb, Roby, Royce, Russel, Saint, Smith, Stanton, Tad, Titus, Toney, Trent, Truman, Valor, Vance, Vince, Ward, Wes, Wilson, Adrain, Aj, Amen, Benard, Canon, Chan, Charlton, Chip, Chosen, Christ, Christain, Christoper, Cris, Cross, Eliott, Emmit, Geoff, Green, Hale, Haydn, Henery, Jaycob, Jeramiah, Judge, Kallen, Knowledge, Matthews, Mayer, Nathon, Newman, Nicholaus, Nicklaus, Park, Payne, Quin, Rafe, Rexford, Rich, Ritchie, Rowland, Ryne, Tadd, Taft, Thayne, Thompson, Tobey, Tobie, True, Truett, Truth, Wesly, Westen, Willam, Willian, Wisdom, Worth, Zach, Able, Andrews, Andrue, Bless, Boy, Bright, Calob, Carlson, Carrell, Chancy, Charls, Chriss, Christop, Clearance, Constant, Creig, Crist, Dom, Elijha, Emitt, Emmette, Erle, Excell, Fitz, French, Gates, Gehrig, Geroge, Gracin, Harding, Henrry, Herald, Hillery, Hoke, Jedd, Jessey, Jonn, Josha, Keithen, Kennis, Lang, Lawyer, Lord, Loye, Manly, Marck, Martyn, Master, Mat, Mathews, Mattew, Meade, Mesiah, Mickeal, Mister, Moody, Neale, Nichols, Parke, Paschal, Phill, Priest, Prosper, Psalm, Quenten, Rainier, Rise, Roben, Solace, Son, Soul, Spence, Stephens, Terrace, Thom, Tobe, Truce, Trust, Unnamed, Whitt, Winson, Yates, Angelgabriel, Benford, Benn, Bond, Chaise, Chales, Choice, Christyan, Chrles, Clance, Clements, Colen, Council, Doctor, Dorse, Doyl, Durham, Eugune, Finesse, Fread, Garet, Garrette, Gavan, Gentle, Goerge, Hall, Juddson, Khristopher, Kingdavid, Kingdom, Kongmeng, Linc, Marvelous, Masson, Maxwel, Mykell, Needham, Nethaniel, Nicklous, Piers, Psalms, Reason, Righteous, Rolin, Royer, Savior, Sims, Snyder, Trueman, Wake, Wessley, Willliam, Zeal, Benjermin, Charlies, Garrit, Trew, Aaronjames, Argyle, Ascension, Awesome, Bartt, Benett, Benney, Bonner, Brace, Brainard, Charels, Charlis, Chaunce, Christianjames, Clever, Cloyde, Courage, Credence, Crit, Danyl, Dare, Doil, Emett, Fidelis, Fount, Fountain, Geofrey, Geoge, Geral, Godson, Handsome, Harvy, Hendry, Jamas, Jaymason, Jonluke, Joshus, Josia, Lister, Lovel, Mann, Markes, Mattheu, Mays, Mead, Michall, Mikle, Nicoles, Pastor, Pratt, Prophet, Raphel, Richards, Rogen, Saviour, Thoms, Timoth, Triumph, Vane, Welcome, Wing, Wise, Witt, Wyat, Wyett

Names like Grace

Names whose popularity has moved with Grace's over the last 50 years.

A parent animal hugging its little one, the personalized name page

G is for Grace, our favorite little girl.

G is for Grace…”

In a Mallowby alphabet book, Grace's letter becomes Grace's page: hand-illustrated, printed hardcover or paperback, made just for them.

Make Grace's book

Books for siblings or grandkids? The second book is 15% off.

Questions parents ask

What does Grace mean?
Grace comes from Latin gratia, meaning favor or charm. The Puritans adopted it as a virtue name referring to divine grace, God's freely given favor.
How popular is Grace?
Grace ranked 38th for American girls in 2025, given to roughly one in every 313 girls. It has been easing gradually since 2003 after a strong 1990s revival.
When was Grace most popular?
Its all-time peak in federal records came in 1890, at the height of its Victorian vogue. A second wave crested in the early 2000s before the current slow drift.
Is Grace more common as a middle name?
Grace is one of America's most-used middle names for girls, its single syllable smooths almost any first name, but as the 2025 rank of No. 38 shows, it remains a strong first-name choice too.
What sibling names go with Grace?
Understated classics keep the register consistent: Claire, Anna, or Charlotte for a sister; Henry, Owen, or Jack for a brother.