Garrett

Pronunciation: [ g-AR-iht ]

Boy Name #563 Most Popular Steady 2 Syllables

A rugged Irish-American name meaning spear strength

English Irish American

Classic Strong Traditional Bold

Meaning & Origin

"spear strength, brave with the spear"

Origin: Germanic

Language: English

"spear rule"

Origin: Old High German

Language: German

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.

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

Famous People Named Garrett

Garrett Hedlund

Actor

1984

American actor known for Tron: Legacy, Country Strong, and Mudbound

Garrett Morgan

Engineer

1877

African-American inventor who created the traffic signal and a smoke-protection hood for firefighters

Pat Garrett

Other

1850

American Old West lawman and sheriff who shot Billy the Kid in 1881

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

Garrison #1799

Common Nicknames

Gary Gar

Pairs Well With

Garrett James Garrett Lee Garrett Thomas Garrett Allen Garrett Wade Garrett Cole Garrett Blake

Sibling Names

Riley Connor Paige Trevor Haley Derek Brooke

Also a Girl Name

Garrett is also used as a girl name, ranked #35349.

View Garrett as a girl name →

Similar Names

Bernard Jerry Harold Willard Arnold Gerald Oswald Jared

Playground Safety

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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.

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.