Grey’s Anatomy: Popular Couples Ranked

Published on August 17, 2016. Updated March 10, 2021

After many seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, fans have seen a lot of different combinations of couples on the show. It seems everyone has dated everyone and there have been a lot of relationships to sift through. As to be expected, fans rooted for some relationships and hoped for the demise of others. It would be nearly impossible to list all of the relationships and couples on Grey’s Anatomy, but there are a few that just stood out, either for good or bad reasons. Check out our roundup of popular couples on Grey’s Anatomy ranked!

14. Izzie Stevens and George O’Malley

Grey’s Anatomy fans that are in the show for the long haul are still haunted by the disaster of a couple that was Izzie Stevens and George O’Malley. For way too long, George pined over Izzie and had fans really believing that once they finally got together actual sparks would fly. Because of this buildup, the let-down of the relationship was even worse than expected. For starters, there was zero physical chemistry between the two which made it not only uncomfortable for them, but awkward for audiences to watch, and of course there is always the fact it happened after George had married Callie, making it an awkward, home-wrecking relationship.

Scott Garfield / © ABC / Courtesy: Everett Collection

13. Alex Karev and April Kepner

Some Grey’s fans like April Kepner, others really do not, and no matter where you fall on that spectrum there is no denying that watching womanizer Alex Karev with goody-two-shoes, virgin April Kepner was uncomfortable. There was absolutely no reason the two should have been a couple and the only saving grace on this one was that it was brief.

Source: ABC

12. Izzie Stevens and Denny Duquette

The romance and relationship between Izzie Stevens and Denny Duquette has become somewhat iconic to the entire Grey’s Anatomy story despite neither being on the show anymore. When the show was airing, the audience was swept up in the idea of their unbelievably beautiful and romantic story, but looking at it now, it all seems a bit too much. They only knew each other for a minimal amount of time and all that time Denny was going through trauma as he approached the end of his life.

Byron Cohen / © ABC / Courtesy: Everett Collection

11. Meredith Grey and Finn Dandridge

Back near the end of season 2, things were rocky between Meredith and Derek, and while Finn Dandridge was a great addition to the show, and was actually a good match for Meredith, there was something always off between the two. It was clear that no matter how many sweet things Finn did, Meredith could never put her whole heart into it, and that of course was because he was not Derek Shepherd.

Vivian Zink / © ABC / Courtesy: Everett Collectio

10. George O’Malley and Callie Tores

Many might not agree with George and Callie being placed on the lower end of the ranking scale, but when it comes down to it, they were amazing friends but not a good couple. It was quite obvious that George never appreciated Callie as much as he should, and while Callie seemingly knew it, it was devastating to see her realize her own husband didn’t really love her. They had sweet moments, but when it came to actual passion and love, there wasn’t much there, and it was all too evident by George going to find those two things elsewhere.

Vivian Zink / © ABC / Courtesy Everett Collection

9. Jackson Avery and April Kepner

The thing about Jackson and April together is that they don’t make any sense. April alone is incessantly annoying, but the way in which she bounces from being “a strong independent woman” to an “innocent damsel in distress” is infuriating and all she does is mess with Jackson’s head. Her religion is way too big of a deal for her to just learn to deal with the fact Jackson is an atheist. Many have come to love the Jackson and April love story, but it seems Jackson could so much better, and April needs to pull herself off of her own pedestal.

Kelsey McNeal / ©ABC / courtesy Everett Collection

8. Cristina Yang and Preston Burke

Cristina Yang and Preston Burke were one of the most interesting couples on the show… while they lasted. Fans like them because it showed off Cristina’s “I get what I want” attitude while also showing a softer side to Burke. Essentially they were the ultimate power couple and looked good as such. Fans got a lot of great moments from the pair, including the “be the other guy” speech and the impromptu dance party in the kitchen, but in the end it seems that they were just too similar. Both were career-driven and stubborn and were used to things being their way and only their way, making it extremely hard to compromise for the wants of the other. In the end, fans didn’t realize just how much Burke wasn’t the one for Cristina until her more balanced relationship with Owen.

Vivian Zink / © ABC / Courtesy: Everett Collection

7. Callie Torres and Arizona Robbins

It could be argued that out of all Grey’s Anatomy couples the most dramatic and complicated would be Callie Torres and Arizona Robbins. Fans cheered this relationship on like no other, if only to finally see Callie happy after a complicated relationship with Mark and a disastrous marriage to George. Their entire relationship was a rollercoaster ride that resulted in some very serious fights and some heartbreaking cheating, but it has to be said, when things were good between them, there was no better couple on the show.

Peter ‘Hopper’ Stone / ©ABC / Courtesy Everett Collection

6. Mark Sloan and Lexie Grey

The love of Mark Sloan and Lexie Grey is still enough to make Grey’s fans tear up, and for good reason. After many failed relationships and hook-ups on both sides, they finally made it work with each other. At first, it didn’t seem like a great idea, and was mildly creepy with the age difference, but in the end, it was only with each other that they were finally able to give into true feelings of love. Of course, there is the other side to the relationship that Mark was ready for something much more serious and on more of a fast-track to marriage than Lexie was. They had everyone rooting for them, but they were not meant to be.

Randy Holmes / © ABC / Courtesy: Everett Collection

5. Miranda Bailey and Ben Warren

Although Miranda Bailey at times seems mean and uncaring, she quickly became one of the most beloved characters on the show and, after a few failed relationships, all fans wanted was to see her happy. Luckily Bailey finally found happiness with Ben Warren, and they quickly became a fan-favorite couple. While they are adorable together, they aren’t quite the best just because of the amount of frustration Bailey takes out on Ben. It is a realistic portrayal of how some relationships are, but a bit more love from her side needs to be seen to truly make this relationship one of the best on the show!

4. Alex Karev and Jo Wilson

Alex was no one’s favorite in the beginning, but he has undergone one of the best character developments out of anyone on the show. After an onslaught of failed romances and random hook-ups, Karev finally found something real with Jo Wilson, who is beautiful, opinionated, strong and a perfect match for Karev. They understand each other thanks to equally painful backgrounds, and she has finally made Alex feel like he can settle down with someone and be happy, which is something not often seen from him.

Source: ABC

3. Alex Karev and Izzie Stevens

For a long time, Alex Karev and Izzie Stevens had to deal with their feelings for each other without truly acting upon it. It might be surprising that they are so high on the list even though they were on and off more than almost any other couple on the show, but when they were together, they were great. Their chemistry seemed so real, and when it really mattered, they were there for each other and all of the other nonsense went away. Unfortunately, the relationship will always be marred by Izzie’s decision to leave Seattle, and Alex.

2. Cristina Yang and Owen Hunt

It would be completely false to say that Cristina Yang and Owen Hunt were a perfect couple, but that does not stop them from being one of the best. In general, they are two of the best characters on the show and the match they made was an instant favorite for fans. They were both determined and career-driven and understood each other in ways no one else could. It is still so disappointing things got as bad as they could for the two and they couldn’t work it out to be together.

Source: ABC

1. Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd

Was there ever any question who would rank number one? Grey’s Anatomy wouldn’t be half of the show that it is if it weren’t for the love story between Derek Shepherd and Meredith Grey. If there is a difficulty to face in a relationship, these two went through it, but always came out of it together. From their numerous iconic romantic moments to the development of their relationship, they were the true love story that had fans hooked from the beginning.