Grant
Grant Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
/ˈɡɹænt/
Meaning of Grant: The name Grant derives from the Anglo-Norman French word graund, a variant of grand, meaning tall, great, or large. Norman settlers carried the nickname into Scotland after 1066, where it took permanent root as a clan name in Strathspey and Moray.
Clan Grant received its first royal charter from King Alexander III of Scotland in the mid-1200s, establishing the family as a significant Highland force whose ancestral seat remains Castle Grant in Speyside to this day.
Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States and commanding general of the Union Army, embedded the name in American civic memory. His two-term presidency from 1869 to 1877 inspired countless families to honor him by naming sons Grant.
What Does Grant Mean? Origin & Etymology
The transition from surname to given name accelerated across the American South and Midwest during the 1880s, fitting a broader nineteenth-century fashion for strong, single-syllable surname names that evoked patriotic or military associations.
According to SSA records, Grant first appeared in national birth statistics around 1880 at rank #203. The name climbed steadily through the twentieth century, reaching its historical peak at rank #115 in 1997 with over 3,200 recorded births that year.
As of 2024, Grant holds rank #241 with 1,453 births, a figure that reflects consistent cross-regional appeal. For etymological background, the etymology records and the SSA baby names database both confirm its sustained popularity.
How Popular Is Grant?
Numerology & Symbolism of Grant
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Grant – Similar Names & Alternatives
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Frequently Asked Questions about Grant
What does the name Grant mean?
Grant derives from the Anglo-Norman French word graund, meaning tall or great. It originated as a physical nickname for unusually tall individuals after the 1066 Norman Conquest, then became the surname of the Scottish Clan Grant in the 1200s. Today it functions primarily as a given name for boys in the United States.
Where does the name Grant come from?
Grant comes from Norman French settlers who carried the nickname into Scotland after 1066. Clan Grant established roots in Strathspey, Moray, and received a royal charter from King Alexander III in the mid-1200s. The name spread to American use mainly after the Civil War fame of General Ulysses S. Grant.
Is Grant a popular name in the United States?
According to SSA records, Grant has ranked inside the top 500 for American boys consistently since the 1880s. It peaked at rank #115 in 1997 and as of 2024 sits at rank #241 with 1,453 births. Its stability across more than 140 years of SSA records marks it as a durable American classic.