NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Gar

A name of Hebrew origin meaning "warrior".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1999. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Gar is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Gar popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1999 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2943, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 3 births.

This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 1999 to 1999. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

Gar is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Gar. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2000 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Gar ranked #2943 for boys in England and Wales in 1999, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1999, when 3 boys were registered as Gar.
  • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Gar as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2943

1999

Births in 1999

3

Latest year

Peak year

1999

3 births

Estimated living

3

2026

Meaning

What does Gar mean?

The name Gar originated from the Old Norse language, which was spoken by the Germanic peoples who inhabited Scandinavia during the Viking Age, from around the 8th to the 11th centuries. It is believed to be derived from the Old Norse word "gardr," which means "enclosure" or "farm."

In ancient Norse mythology, Gar was the name of a legendary warrior and hero who was known for his bravery and strength in battle. He was often depicted as a fierce and fearless fighter, and his name became synonymous with courage and valor.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Gar can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, which are a collection of narratives that were written down in the 13th and 14th centuries. These sagas often featured characters with names that were common among the Norse people, including Gar.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the name Gar. One of the most famous was Gar Alperovitz (1936-2022), an American political economist and historian who is best known for his work on the decision to use atomic bombs against Japan during World War II.

Another notable Gar was Gar Samuelson (1958-1999), a American drummer who played with various rock bands, including Mega City Four and The Geniuses. He was highly regarded for his technical skills and innovative drumming style.

In the world of sports, Gar Heard (1951-2021) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for several teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Vancouver Canucks, during the 1970s and 1980s.

Gar Forman (born 1956) is another notable individual with this name. He is an American basketball executive who has served as the general manager of the Chicago Bulls and the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA.

Finally, Gar Alperovitz (1936-2022) was an American political economist and historian who is best known for his work on the decision to use atomic bombs against Japan during World War II. He was a prominent advocate for nuclear disarmament and was widely respected for his scholarly work on the subject.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Gar by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Gar was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
1990s #2943 3 1

Related

Names similar to Gar

FAQ

Gar: questions and answers

How popular is the name Gar in the UK right now?

In 1999, Gar was ranked #2943 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Gar most popular?

The peak year on record was 1999, with 3 babies registered as Gar in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Gar?

A name of Hebrew origin meaning "warrior".

How many people are called Gar in the UK?

A total of 3 babies have been registered as Gar across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.