The baby name Grimes is a Unisex name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /ɡraɪmz/ (GRYMZ).
The baby name Grimes is a Unisex name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /ɡraɪmz/ (GRYMZ).
Grimes is English, Irish, Norse in Origin.
Grimes is a transferred English surname with Norse and Anglo-Scandinavian roots. It stems from the personal name Grim/Grimr (Old Norse), a byname of Odin meaning "masked, hooded one," and is also linked to Old English/Old Norse grimm/grim "stern, fierce." The -s ending functions as a genitive or patronymic, yielding "son of Grim" or "belonging to Grim." As a given name, Grimes carries the sense of mystery, strength, and protective disguise.
Found in medieval records across the Danelaw counties and later in Scotland and Ireland, the surname spread to North America in the colonial era. Its adoption as a first name is modern and rare, aligning with the fashion for surname choices; it reads as unisex. Variant spellings include Grime, Grymes, and Grimm (a German cognate), with related given name forms Grim, Grimr/Grimur (Norse/Icelandic), and Grimme (medieval). Diminutives are uncommon; short forms like Grim may be used.
Grimes is a rare name. Across 7 countries, we found 18 recorded uses of it.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TW | Boys | 0 | #256 | 1 | 7,111 |
| PA | Boys | 0 | #505 | 1 | 9,305 |
| AR | Girls | 0 | #630 | 1 | 8,289 |
| NG | Boys | 0 | #1,001 | 1 | 16,906 |
| PE | Girls | 0 | #1,010 | 1 | 14,861 |
| DZ | 0 | #1,165 | 12 | 20,130 | |
| SA | Boys | 0 | #1,691 | 1 | 28,008 |
Grimes is popular in 7 countries — most recent births per country:
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