How to say it
GRA · dy
ˈɡreɪ.di
Masculine
Grady
Noble, illustrious
What it means
From the Irish surname Ó Grádaigh, 'descendant of the noble one,' from grada ('noble, illustrious').
Grady comes from the Irish surname Ó Grádaigh, 'descendant of the noble or illustrious one.' Like Brady and Brody, it stepped from surname to first name with a bright, friendly two-syllable sound. It reads warm and a little countrified, and it keeps good company with the rest of the Irish -y surnames. Plainspoken and upbeat.
How to spell Grady
The standard spelling is Grady. Common variants include Gradey, Gradaigh, but Grady is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #180 in 1911, currently #373 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed August 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
From the Irish 'noble' surname Ó Grádaigh; rhymes into the Brady and Brody set.
Who's worn it
- Grady an Irish surname meaning 'noble,' now used as a friendly first name
Spelling variants
- Gradey
- Gradaigh
Names with the same feeling
See Grady from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Grady mean?
- From the Irish surname Ó Grádaigh, 'descendant of the noble one,' from grada ('noble, illustrious').
- What does Grady mean in Irish?
- In Irish, Grady means "Noble, illustrious." Grady comes from the Irish surname Ó Grádaigh, 'descendant of the noble or illustrious one.' Like Brady and Brody, it stepped from surname to first name with a bright, friendly two-syllable sound. It reads warm and a little countrified, and it keeps good company with the rest of the Irish -y surnames. Plainspoken and upbeat.
- How do you pronounce Grady?
- Grady is pronounced ˈɡreɪ.di. Say it as GRA-dy, with the stress on the "gra" syllable.
- How do you spell Grady?
- The standard spelling is Grady. Common spelling variants include Gradey, Gradaigh.
- Is Grady a boy or girl name?
- Grady is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Grady?
- Grady ranked #373 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.