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Greer

Girl name · 12 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Greer: 12 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 3 births in 1974.

Derived from the Scottish surname MacGregor, Greer originally meant "son of Gregor" (Gregor being the Scottish form of Gregory, from the Greek *gregorein*, meaning "to be watchful" or "alert"). The name gained prominence as a feminine given name through Greer Garson, the Oscar-winning British actress known for her elegant roles in 1940s Hollywood films like *Mrs. Miniver*. It was also famously borne by Germaine Greer, the influential Australian feminist writer and academic whose 1970 book *The Female Eunuch* became a landmark text. While there is a Greer in South Carolina (named after a railroad official, not a namesake), the root "Gregor" is echoed throughout Scotland—most notably linked to the ancient Clan Gregor, though no specific place shares the exact given name. Greer remains a stylish, compact alternative to the more common full form, often chosen for its crisp, unisex appeal.