George (given name) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids George |
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St. George depicted slaying a dragon
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| Pronunciation | English: jorj |
| Gender | Male |
| Name day | April 23 |
| Origin | |
| Meaning | farmer |
| Place of origin | Ancient Greece |
| Other names | |
| Related names | Georges, Georgios, Georgius, Gheorghe, Giorgio, Göran, Geevarghese/Varghese, Gjergj György, Jerzy, Jorge, Joris, Jörg, Jörgen, Jørgen, Jørn, Jüri, Jurgis, Jurģis, Jürgen, Jurij, Juris, Örjan, Ørjan, Sjors, Yegor, Yrjö, Jyrki, Jyri, Yuri/Yury, Uri/Ori, Đorđe, Đurađ, Jiří |
George is a popular boy's name that comes from the Greek name Georgios. This name became very well known because of Saint George, a Christian hero who lived a long time ago. He was a soldier who was said to have been killed for his beliefs. Before that, the name might have been linked to an old Greek god, Zeus Georgos. Today, George is one of the most common names around the world. Some shorter, friendly versions of the name are Geordie and Georgie. For girls, similar names include Georgia, Georgiana, and Georgina.
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What's in a Name? The Story of George
The original Greek name, Georgios, comes from the Greek word georgos, which means 'farmer'. This word is made up of two older Greek words: ge (meaning 'earth' or 'soil') and ergon (meaning 'work'). So, georgos literally means 'earth-worker' or 'farmer'.
From Farmers to Kings: How the Name George Grew
Long ago, a Roman-era Greek writer named Aelius Herodianus thought Georgios was a "theophoric name." This means it was a name created to honor a god. He believed it was a nod to Zeus Georgos, which means "Zeus the Farmer." In early Greek mythology, Zeus was sometimes seen as a god who helped with crops and harvests.
The name became very important for Christians around the year 303. This was when Georgios, a Roman soldier, was believed to have died for his Christian faith. Even though we're not entirely sure about all the details of his story, Saint George became a very important figure in the Christian Church. Because of him, Georgios and its different forms were used for baptismal names and by religious leaders and kings. It became even more common for everyday people after the Middle Ages.
Famous People Named George
Many famous people throughout history have been named George. Here are just a few:
Leaders and Royals
- George I of Great Britain (1660–1727), a King of Great Britain.
- George II of Great Britain (1683–1760), another King of Great Britain.
- George III (1738–1820), a King of the United Kingdom.
- George IV (1762–1830), a King of the United Kingdom.
- George V (1865–1936), a King of the United Kingdom.
- George VI (1895–1952), a King of the United Kingdom.
- George Washington (1732–1799), the very first president of the United States. He is known as one of the country's Founding Fathers.
- George I of Greece (1845–1913), a King of Greece.
- George II of Greece (1890–1947), another King of Greece.
- George H. W. Bush (1924–2018), the 41st president of the United States.
- George W. Bush (born 1946), the 43rd president of the United States and son of George H. W. Bush.
- Prince George of Wales (born 2013), a young prince who is second in line to the British throne.
Artists and Entertainers
- Lord Byron (1788–1824), a famous English poet. His full name was George Gordon Byron.
- George Eliot, a pen name for Mary Ann Evans (1819–1880), a well-known English writer.
- George Eastman (1854–1932), an American inventor who founded the Eastman Kodak Company, famous for cameras and film.
- George Carlin (1937–2008), a very popular American comedian and actor.
- George Harrison (1943–2001), the lead guitarist for the legendary band the Beatles.
- George Michael (1963–2016), a famous English pop singer and songwriter.
- George Clooney (born 1961), a well-known American actor and film director.
- George Formby (1904-1961), a popular British entertainer.
- George Martin (1926-2016), an English record producer, often called "the Fifth Beatle" because of his work with the band.
- George Winston (1949–2023), an American pianist.
Other Notable Georges
- George Meade (1815-1872), an American Civil War general.
- George W. Melville (1841-1912), a U.S. Navy rear admiral.
- George Russell (born 1998), an English racing driver.
- George Floyd (1973–2020), an American man whose death sparked protests around the world.
Fictional Characters Named George
- Curious George, a famous monkey who is the main character in a series of children's books and TV shows.
- George Bailey, the main character in the classic Christmas movie It's a Wonderful Life.
- George Beard, a funny character from the Captain Underpants book series.
