9 Things You Didn’t Know About the Name George

The name George is one of the most popular in Greece, if not the most popular, yet few are aware of its ancient Greek origins.

Moreover, even fewer know about the unique proverb featuring the name or how widespread it is in other countries. After wishing a happy name day to the hundreds of thousands of Georges in this country, we present nine fascinating facts we uncovered about their first name.

The Name George: 171,007 Greeks Bear This Name

This is the estimated number of Georges in Greece, according to Greek researcher Charis Fountalis, who conducted extensive studies on names in the country. The same research revealed that the next most common names (though significantly less popular than George) are Dimitris, Kostas, Giannis, and Nikos. Correspondingly, the dominant female names are Maria (with an impressive 342,632 women), Eleni, Katerina, Vasiliki, and, in fifth place, Georgia.

The Name George: Its Origins

With clear Greek roots, the name George, a modern version of Georgios, derives from the words gi (earth) and ergo (work), meaning “farmer” or one who works the land. According to the English Wikipedia, the name has connections to ancient Greek religion, as the term “farmer” appears in Aristophanes’ works and, according to ancient Greek sources, was an epithet of Zeus (“Zeus Georgos”), as one of his duties was protecting crops. In the 2nd century AD, Aelius Herodian included “Georgios” among theophoric names—names derived from gods with the suffix “-ios” (e.g., Dimitrios).

The Name George: Who Was Saint George?

As a historical figure, Saint George (specifically the Trophy-Bearer, as several other Georges were also canonized) was born in Palestine in 280 AD and was the son of a Greek nobleman from Cappadocia. He was martyred in 303 AD and became a prominent figure in the Eastern Roman Empire.

At a young age, George enlisted in the Roman army and distinguished himself for his bravery. However, when he professed his Christian faith, he incurred the wrath of Emperor Diocletian, who subjected him to a series of horrific tortures (spearing, tearing his flesh with a wheel of knives, a pit of boiling lime, and red-hot metal shoes, culminating in his beheading).

Later, legends arose around his name, the most famous being his victory over a dragon guarding a water source in Libya. According to this tradition, the beast allowed water to flow only when it was fed a human. The locals selected victims by lot, and when the lot fell to the region’s princess, Saint George saved her by slaying the dragon with his spear.

The Name George: How It Appears in Other Languages

• English: George
• Arabic: Girgis
• Basque: Gorka
• Bulgarian: Георги (Georgi)
• French: Georges
• German: Georg, Jörg, Jürgen, Jörgen
• Georgian: გიორგი (Giorgi)
• Danish: Jørgen
• Estonian: Jüri
• Irish: Seoirse
• Spanish: Jorge
• Italian: Giorgio
• Catalan: Jordi
• Lithuanian: Jurgis
• Norwegian: Jørgen, Georg
• Dutch: Joris, Sjors
• Hungarian: György
• Polish: Jerzy
• Portuguese: Jorge
• Russian: Георгий (Georgij), Юрий (Yury), Егор (Yegor)
• Slovak: Juraj
• Swedish: Göran, Jörgen, Örjan, Georg
• Czech: Jiří
• Finnish: Jyrki, Yrjö

The Name George: Why It’s a Movable Feast

The feast day of Saint George is set for April 23, the date of his death. However, when this date falls during Lent, the celebration is moved to the second day of Easter.

The Name George: It’s Equally Popular Abroad

The name is particularly popular in England, where Saint George is the country’s patron saint. In the United States, it ranks as the 166th most popular name, though it was among the top five a century ago. In Britain, the name gained further prominence from the 18th century onward, when King George I was crowned. Note that the English name “George” is also occasionally given to women, though less frequently. See here for a chart showing the name’s popularity over the decades.

The Name George: Its Connection to Ancient Greek Mythology

The tradition of Saint George, the knight who slays the dragon, bears striking similarities to the story of the mythical Bellerophon, son of Poseidon and the queen of Corinth. Bellerophon tamed Pegasus and was tasked with killing the Chimera, a fire-breathing monster tormenting the people of Lycia. The young hero succeeded in slaying the beast with his spear.

The Name George: There’s Only One Proverb

Despite being more popular than “Giannis,” which appears in dozens of proverbs, “George” is featured in just one: “Where there’s George, there’s gold.” This proverb is said to originate from a recent variation of a song by George Mitsakis.

The Name George: What Numerology Says

In numerology, the name’s numerical value is 1, indicating a leader-like, commanding, and unforgettable man who takes initiative and stands out for his determination but may struggle with egoism. Additionally, the word georgia (agriculture) refers not only to cultivating the land but also to cultivating the mind, which Georges are called to develop further.