Gregor is a masculine given name used in German, Scottish, Slovak, and Slovene, and is a form of Gregorius (see Gregory). The root name Gregory derives from the Late Greek name Γρηγόριος (Gregorios), which comes from the Greek word γρήγορος (gregoros), meaning "watchful" or "alert". This name was popular among early Christians, borne by many saints, including the 6th-century pope Gregory the Great, as well as 15 other popes. The name has remained common throughout the Christian world since the Middle Ages, appearing in various forms.In the German-speaking world, Gregor has been used since the Middle Ages and is still common today. In Scotland, Gregor is a traditional name with roots in the Scottish Gaelic Griogair, and it is also found as a surname (e.g., Clan Gregor). In Slovakia and Slovenia, it is a widely used form of Gregory, often in the shorter forms Grega (Slovene) or Greig (Scottish diminutive).One of the most famous bearers of the name was Gregor Mendel (1822–1884), a Czech monk and scientist who conducted pioneering experiments in genetics at the Augustinian Abbey of St. Thomas in Brno. His work on pea plants laid the foundation for modern genetics. Other notable figures include actors, musicians, sportspeople, and fictional characters, such as Gregor Samsa in Franz Kafka's novella The Metamorphosis (1915), whose name is thematically tied to watchfulness due to his sudden transformation into an insect.Meaning: "watchful, alert"Origin: Greek, via LatinType: Given nameUsage Regions: German, Scottish, Slovak, Slovene