About the name Grigor / Gregory
Etymology & meaning
Grigor is the Bulgarian form of the Greek Γρηγόριος — from γρηγορέω, "to be watchful": "the vigilant one". The familiar form is Grisha, and the feminines Grigorina and Grigoriya are rare but alive.
History & patron saint
The patron of the name is Saint Gregory the Theologian (25 January) — 4th-century Archbishop of Constantinople and one of the Three Holy Hierarchs alongside Basil the Great and John Chrysostom, unmatched in Orthodox Trinitarian theology.
Traditions & customs
The name day is a winter one — uninvited guests, a warm table and toasts. In older times teachers also treated on this day, through the Three Hierarchs' tie to learning.
Popularity & notable bearers
Grigor is a classic Bulgarian name, known to everyone today through Grigor Dimitrov — the most successful Bulgarian tennis player in history. The surnames Grigorov and Grishev keep it across the country.