How to say it
GRANT
ɡrænt
Masculine
Grant
Tall, great
What it means
From the Anglo-Norman grand ('tall, great'), used as a descriptive surname. Ulysses S. Grant (the Civil War general and 18th president) and Cary Grant (the actor) are the two cultural anchors.
Grant comes from the Anglo-Norman French grand ('tall, large, great'), used as a descriptive surname for someone of imposing stature. The Scottish Clan Grant carried the name through medieval and modern Scotland. Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), the Union commanding general who accepted Lee's surrender at Appomattox and then served two terms as the 18th US president, is the deepest American anchor, his face is on the $50 bill. Cary Grant (born Archibald Leach, the British-American actor of North by Northwest and Notorious) gave the name 20th-century glamour. As a first name Grant has been in the US top 200 since the 1980s. Single syllable, no shorter form.
How to spell Grant
The standard spelling is Grant. Common variants include Grantley, but Grant is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #115 in 1997, currently #228 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
- Pop culture
Ulysses S. Grant (Civil War + president) and Cary Grant (Hollywood golden age) are the two indelible English-language anchors.
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.
- Ulysses S. Grant Union commanding general, 18th US president, on the $50 bill
- Cary Grant British-American actor, North by Northwest and Notorious
Spelling variants
- Grantley
Names with the same feeling
See Grant from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Grant mean?
- From the Anglo-Norman grand ('tall, great'), used as a descriptive surname. Ulysses S. Grant (the Civil War general and 18th president) and Cary Grant (the actor) are the two cultural anchors.
- What does Grant mean in French?
- In French, Grant means "Tall, great." Grant comes from the Anglo-Norman French grand ('tall, large, great'), used as a descriptive surname for someone of imposing stature. The Scottish Clan Grant carried the name through medieval and modern Scotland. Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), the Union commanding general who accepted Lee's surrender at Appomattox and then served two terms as the 18th US president, is the deepest American anchor, his face is on the $50 bill. Cary Grant (born Archibald Leach, the British-American actor of North by Northwest and Notorious) gave the name 20th-century glamour. As a first name Grant has been in the US top 200 since the 1980s. Single syllable, no shorter form.
- How do you pronounce Grant?
- Grant is pronounced ɡrænt. Say it as GRANT, with the stress on the "grant" syllable.
- How do you spell Grant?
- The standard spelling is Grant. Common spelling variants include Grantley.
- Is Grant a boy or girl name?
- Grant is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Grant?
- Grant ranked #228 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.