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 July 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
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give 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.