The letter G has two main sounds in the English language: the “hard G” like in the world gold and the “soft G” like in the word gentle. Baby names starting with the hard G tend to sound strong and serious, like Gregory or Gabriella. The soft G sound in Gemma or Gino comes across and more gentle and whimsical. Here is our list of baby names that start with G.
Gabriel
Origin: Hebrew Meaning: God is my strong man Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gavriel, Gavril, Jabril Peak Popularity: Gabriel has been a top 100 name since the ’70s and a top 50 name since the year 2000. It was most popular in 2010 at No. 21.
Gabriella
Origin: HebrewMeaning: God is my strong manAlternative Spellings & Variations: Ella, Gabby, Gabriela, GabriellePeak Popularity: Gabriella has been a top 100 name for more than 20 years. It was most popular in 2009 and 2010 when it sat at No. 33.
Gaetana
Origin: LatinMeaning: From CaietaAlternative Spellings & Variations: Caetana, GaetanePeak Popularity: Gaetana is not listed in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.
Gaetano
Origin: Latin Meaning: From Caieta Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cajetan, Gaetan, Cayetano Peak Popularity: Gaetano dropped off the top 1,000 name chart in 1930 and hasn’t made a reappearance since.
Gaia
Origin: Greek Meaning: Earth Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gaea, Gaja, Kaja Peak Popularity: Gaia is not listed in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.
Gale
Origin: HebrewMeaning: My father’s joyAlternative Spellings & Variations: Gail, GaylePeak Popularity: Gale dropped off the charts in 1971 and hasn’t made it back on the list since.
Galen
Origin: GreekMeaning: CalmAlternative Spellings & Variations: GalenosPeak Popularity: Galen dropped off the top 1,000 baby name chart in 1997.
Galia
Origin: HebrewMeaning: Wave from GodAlternative Spellings & Variations: Gal, GalyaPeak Popularity: Galia is not listed in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.
Garland
Origin: Old EnglishMeaning: Triangle landAlternative Spellings & Variations: GarlindPeak Popularity: Garland is not listed in the top 1,000 U.S. baby names.
Garrett
Origin: GermanicMeaning: Ruler of the spearAlternative Spellings & Variations: Garet, GarrittPeak Popularity: Garrett is a top 500 name. It was in the top 100 names from 1990 to 2002. Its peak popularity in the year 2000 at No. 74.
Garth
Origin: Old Norse Meaning: Garden Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gareth Peak Popularity: Garth is not in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.
Gaultier
Origin: GermanicMeaning: Ruler of the armyAlternative Spellings & Variations: Gutierre, Valter, WalterPeak Popularity: Gaultier is not listed in the top 1,000 U.S. baby names.
Gemma
Origin: ItalianMeaning: GemAlternative Spellings & Variations: Gema, JemmaPeak Popularity: Gemma first came onto the charts in 2008 and it has risen it popularity since. Gemma is currently at its peak popularity at No. 191, and it looks like this name will become more and more popular.
Genesis
Origin: GreekMeaning: OriginAlternative Spellings & Variations: GenesysPeak Popularity: Genesis has been a top 100 name since 2008. Its peak was at No. 55 in 2013 and it is currently at No. 75.
Genette
Origin: GreekMeaning: Yaweh is graciousAlternative Spellings & Variations: Jeanette, JeannettePeak Popularity: Genette is not listed in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.
Genevieve
Origin: FrenchMeaning: UnknownAlternative Spellings & Variations: Genovefa, GenovevaPeak Popularity: Genevieve has seen rises and falls in its popularity over time. Its peak was from 1914 to 1916 when it sat at No. 76. It experienced a gradual fall after that before rising again and hitting a second peak in 2021 at No. 155.
Gennifer
Origin: CelticMeaning: Fair, white, blessedAlternative Spellings & Variations: Genifer, Jenifer, JenniferPeak Popularity: Gennifer is not listed in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.
Geoffrey
Origin: GermanicMeaning: Peaceful territoryAlternative Spellings & Variations: Geffrey, Jeffery, JeffreyPeak Popularity: Geoffrey has been sharply declining in popularity. In 1976 it peaked at No. 167 and it is not at No. 990 and poised to fall off the charts. It’s alternate spelling, Jeffrey, is much more common but also in a decline
George
Origin: GreekMeaning: FarmerAlternative Spellings & Variations: George, Giorge, Giorgio, JorgePeak Popularity: George has been steadily declining in popularity over the years, but it is still a popular name. It was a top 10 name until 1938 and a top 100 name until 1933. It is currently at No. 134.
Georgina
Origin: GreekMeaning: FarmerAlternative Spellings & Variations: Georgeanna, Georgette, GeorgiaPeak Popularity: Georgina fell off the top baby name charts in 1993.
Gerald
Origin: GermanicMeaning: Ruler of the spearAlternative Spellings & Variations: Geraldo, Gerhold, Gerold, Jerald, JeroldPeak Popularity: Gerald has been on a steady decline since the 1970’s and it fell off the charts in 2021.
Gessica
Origin: HebrewMeaning: To beholdAlternative Spellings & Variations: Jesca, Jessica, Jessika, YesicaPeak Popularity: Gessica a rare name and not listed in the top 1,000 names. Its alternate spelling, Jessica, is much more common and even sat as the No. 1 name during the 1980’s and 1990’s.
Gia
Origin: GreekMeaning: Yaweh is graciousAlternative Spellings & Variations: Giannina, NinaPeak Popularity: Gia recently saw a surge in popularity and it is currently at its peak at No. 278.
Gianna
Origin: GreekMeaning: Yaweh is graciousAlternative Spellings & Variations: Giana, Janina, JeannaPeak Popularity: Gianna is at its all-time most common at No. 13 on the charts.
Gift
Origin: Old NorseMeaning: GiftAlternative Spellings & Variations: GiftyPeak Popularity: Gift is not listed in the top 1,000 names in the U.S. It is more common in English-influenced parts of Africa.
Gilbert
Origin: GermanicMeaning: Bright pledgeAlternative Spellings & Variations: Gilberte, Giselbert, GisilbertPeak Popularity: Gilbert dropped off the charts in 2016 after declining in popularity since the 1940’s.
Gilead
Origin: HebrewMeaning: Heap of witnessAlternative Spellings & Variations: Galaad, Galahad, GiladPeak Popularity: Gilead is not listed in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.
Gilroy
Origin: IrishMeaning: Servant’s sonAlternative Spellings & Variations: GilroiPeak Popularity: Gilroy is not listed in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.
Ginny
Origin: LatinMeaning: VirginAlternative Spellings & Variations: Gena, Gina, GinniePeak Popularity: Ginny dropped off the top 1,000 baby name charts in 1982.
Gino
Origin: ItalianMeaning: FarmerAlternative Spellings & Variations: GiorginoPeak Popularity: Gino spent some time on the charts but was never more popular than No. 603. It dropped off in 2014.
Giovanna
Origin: HebrewMeaning: Yahweh is graciousAlternative Spellings & Variations: Giovanetta, VannaPeak Popularity: Giovanna is a moderately popular name and it was most common in the early 2000’s.
Giselle
Origin: GermanicMeaning: PledgeAlternative Spellings & Variations: Gisele, Gisella, GissellePeak Popularity: The name Giselle saw a surge in popularity in the mid-nineties around the time that Gisele Bundchen became a top model. Giselle has remained a common name for girls since. It’s most popular year was 2009 when it reached No. 134.
Giuseppina
Origin: Ancient HebrewMeaning: He will addAlternative Spellings & Variations: Giuseppa, Josepha, JosipaPeak Popularity: Giuseppina is not listed in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.
Giulia
Origin: GreekMeaning: Bearded fatherAlternative Spellings & Variations: Giulietta, Julia, Julie, Juliya, YuliaPeak Popularity: Giulia is not listed in the top 1,000 names in the U.S. Its alternate spelling, Julia, is much more popular in the U.S.
Giuliana
Origin: GreekMeaning: Downy-beardedAlternative Spellings & Variations: Iuliana, Juliana, Liana, YulianaPeak Popularity: Giuliana first appeared on the charts in 2007. After five years of increased popularity, it started to decline. Its alternate spelling, Juliana, is much more popular in the U.S.
Glen
Origin: Gaelic Meaning: Valley Alternative Spellings & Variations: Glenn, Gleanne Peak Popularity: Glen fell off the charts in 2003 after a steady decline in popularity.
Glinda
Origin: Literature Meaning: Glinda was the name of a good witch in Frank L. Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz”. Alternative Spellings & Variations: Glenda, Glynda Peak Popularity: Glinda is currently a rare name but it did make a brief appearance on the charts from 1944 to 1955. This is most likely related to the release of the “Wizard of Oz” film in 1939.
Gloria
Origin: LatinMeaning: GloryAlternative Spellings & Variations: Gloriana, GloryPeak Popularity: Gloria is a moderately popular name. It was a top 100 name during the earlier half of the 20th century, but it has seen a steady decline since.
Godfrey
Origin: GermanicMeaning: Peace of GodAlternative Spellings & Variations: Godafrid, GodfriedPeak Popularity: Godfrey is not listed in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.
Godric
Origin: Old EnglishMeaning: God’s rulerAlternative Spellings & Variations: GodrikPeak Popularity: Godric is not listed in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.
Goldie
Origin: EnglishMeaning: GoldAlternative Spellings & Variations: Golda, GoldiPeak Popularity: Goldie made a sudden resurgence in 2021 after having fallen off the charts back in 1958. It was most popular in 1907.
Golshan
Origin: PersianMeaning: Rose gardenAlternative Spellings & Variations: GulshanPeak Popularity: Golshan is not listed in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.
Gordan
Origin: ScottishMeaning: Spacious fortAlternative Spellings & Variations: Gorden, GordynPeak Popularity: Gordon has been steadily declining in popularity and it is poised to fall off the charts soon. It was most common in the U.S. in the ’30s and ’40s.
Grace
Origin: LatinMeaning: ThanksAlternative Spellings & Variations: Gracia, Gracie, GraziaPeak Popularity: Grace is a top 50 name. It has been very popular during the past 30 years. Grace was also quite common in the early part of the 20th century.
Graham
Origin: Old EnglishMeaning: Gravely homesteadAlternative Spellings & Variations: Gram, GrammePeak Popularity: Graham has historically been a popular name in the U.S.
Grant
Origin: FrenchMeaning: Great, largeAlternative Spellings & Variations: GarnetPeak Popularity: Grant has historically been a popular name in the U.S.
Grayson
Origin: EnglishMeaning: Son of the stewardAlternative Spellings & Variations: Greysen, GreysonPeak Popularity: Grayson is a very common name. It is at its peak popularity, and it has been a top 100 name for the past 10 years in the U.S.
Gregory
Origin: GreekMeaning: Watchful, alertAlternative Spellings & Variations: Grego, Gregoire, GregorioPeak Popularity: Greory is a fairly common name and it is currently at No. 486 on the charts. Its heyday lasted pretty long, from the 1940s to the 1990s, during which it was a top 100 name.
Gunther
Origin: GermanicMeaning: Warrior guardAlternative Spellings & Variations: Gundahar, Gunnar, Gunner, GunterPeak Popularity: Gunther is not listed in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.
Guy
Origin: Ancient GermanicMeaning: WoodAlternative Spellings & Variations: GuidoPeak Popularity: Guy fell off the charts in 2006 after a steadily decline in popularity.
