"spear strength, brave with the spear"
Origin: Germanic
Language: English
Garrett
Pronunciation: [ g-AR-iht ]
Does Garrett flow with your last name?
A rugged Irish-American name meaning spear strength
English
Irish
American
Classic
Strong
Traditional
Bold
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Garrett
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Garrett
2 shorthand options for every setting
Fantasy Names
Garrett as a Fantasy Character
Human lore, pronunciation, D&D class tips
Meaning & Origin
"spear rule"
Origin: Old High German
Language: German
Browse names with similar meanings:
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Garrett
See all →What the Garrett report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Garrett the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Keep Garrett
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Garrett head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Garrett actually gets called.
Browse nicknames →
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
The Story of Garrett
Garrett is an anglicized form of the Germanic name Gerhard or Gerald, composed of 'ger' (spear) and 'hard' (brave, hardy) or 'wald' (rule). Brought to Ireland by the Normans as Gearoid, it became deeply embedded in Irish culture — the powerful Fitzgerald earls of Kildare bore it for generations, making it virtually an Irish name by adoption.
Garrett peaked in the United States during the 1990s, driven by its rugged, outdoorsy sound that resonated with parents who wanted a strong but not overwhelming name. It remains popular in Midwest and Southern states where traditional English and Irish surnames-as-first-names thrive.
The Garrett name is woven into American frontier history — Pat Garrett was the sheriff who killed Billy the Kid in 1881. In Ireland, the Fitzgerald Garretts (Gearoids) held so much power that the saying 'All Ireland cannot rule the Earl of Kildare, then let the Earl of Kildare rule all Ireland' became proverbial.
Historical Record
Garrett first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 131,332 babies have been named Garrett in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Garrett is past its peak , currently ranked #563 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Pat Garrett, the frontier lawman, shot and killed Billy the Kid in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, in 1881
- Gearoid Mor Fitzgerald, 8th Earl of Kildare, was effectively ruler of Ireland from 1477-1513
- The name shares roots with Gerald, Gerard, and Geraldine — all from the same Germanic spear-warrior origin
Garrett in Other Languages
Irish
Gearoid
French
Gerard
German
Gerhard
Italian
Gerardo
Spanish
Gerardo
Popularity Over Time
#563
Current Rank
Stable
Trend
Peaked 2000
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Garrett
G
Garrett Hedlund
Actor
1984
American actor known for Tron: Legacy, Country Strong, and Mudbound
G
Garrett Morgan
Engineer
1877
African-American inventor who created the traffic signal and a smoke-protection hood for firefighters
P
Pat Garrett
Other
1850
American Old West lawman and sheriff who shot Billy the Kid in 1881
Names You Might Also Love
See all →Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #563
- Total SSA Count
- 527
- Cultural Origins
- English Irish American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Gary
Gar
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
Middle Names
Middle Names for Garrett
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Garrett fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Also a Girl Name
Garrett is also used as a girl name, ranked #35349.
View Garrett as a girl name →Similar Names
See all names like Garrett →For Parents
amz
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Garrett with...
Same Origin Names (English)
See all English names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Garrett
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Garrett and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Garrett sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
Bruce
Boy
Norman French origin
"from the brushwood thicket"
#540 in US
Donald
Boy
Celtic origin
"world-mighty"
#673 in US
Wilder
Boy
Old English origin
"hunter, one who hunts"
#391 in US
Kasen
Boy
Greek via modern respelling origin
"healer (if derived from Jason/Kason)"
#555 in US
Cal
Boy
Latin origin
"bald (short for Calvin from Latin Cal..."
#671 in US
Callahan
Boy
Irish Gaelic origin
"lover of churches"
#364 in US
Gregory
Boy
Greek origin
"watchful, vigilant, alert"
#538 in US
Crue
Boy
Old French origin
"increase, growth"
#631 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Garrett's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Garrett
What does the name Garrett mean?
"spear strength, brave with the spear" (from Germanic). "spear rule" (from Old High German). Garrett is an anglicized form of the Germanic name Gerhard or Gerald, composed of 'ger' (spear) and 'hard' (brave, hardy) or 'wald' (rule). Brought to Ireland by the Normans as Gearoid, it became deeply embedded in Irish culture — the powerful Fitzgerald earls of Kildare bore it for generations, making it virtually an Irish name by adoption.
What is the origin of the name Garrett?
Garrett has Germanic, Old High German, English, Irish, and American origins. In Germanic, it means "spear strength, brave with the spear". In Old High German, it means "spear rule".
Is Garrett a boy or girl name?
Garrett is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #563. As a girl name, it is ranked #35349. Garrett is more commonly used as a boy name.
How do you pronounce Garrett?
Garrett is pronounced g-AR-iht.
How popular is the name Garrett?
Garrett is currently ranked #563 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Garrett?
Common nicknames for Garrett include Gary and Gar.
What are good middle names for Garrett?
Popular middle name pairings include Garrett James, Garrett Lee, Garrett Thomas, Garrett Allen, Garrett Wade, Garrett Cole, and Garrett Blake.
What are good sibling names for Garrett?
Names that pair well with Garrett as siblings include Riley, Connor, Paige, Trevor, Haley, Derek, and Brooke.
How many syllables does Garrett have?
Garrett has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Garrett a common or rare name?
Garrett is moderately common, ranked #563 for boys in the US. You will encounter it, but it stands out.
What boy names are similar to Garrett?
Are there other spellings for Garrett?
Related spellings include Garrison.
About the Name Garrett
Garrett is a boy name with English, Irish, and American origins . The name means "spear strength, brave with the spear" in Germanic .
Is Garrett a boy or girl name? Garrett is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #563 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #35,349. Garrett is more commonly used as a boy name.
Garrett is currently ranked #563 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Garrett has 2 syllables and is pronounced g-AR-iht, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Garrett include Gary and Gar. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Garrett include Garrison . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
Keep Exploring
Germanic Names
Browse all names with this origin
G
Names Starting with G
More boy names like Garrett
Unique Names
Uncommon names with character
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Boy Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Recommended for Parents
amz
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis