Fun Facts About the Name Gerald
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 448,961 boys named Gerald from 1880 through 2025.
- A favorite of earlier generations: Gerald appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 63 years. Its last run lasted 61 consecutive years, from 1911 through 1971.
- More than 451 thousand babies named Gerald: U.S. records list 451,346 babies given the name Gerald from 1880 through 2025. Even 2,385 girls received the name Gerald - about 1 girl for every 188 boys.
What Does the Name Gerald Mean?
Gerald comes from Germanic *gaizaz "spear" and *waldaz "ruler, power," giving the literal sense "spear-ruler" or "rule by the spear." The name reached English through Old French and Anglo-Norman forms such as Giralt, Giraut, and Geraut, which descend from a West Germanic name recorded in Old High German as Geralt and Gerolt. Medieval Latin texts render it Geraldus.
Gerald is not the same name as Gerard. Both share the "spear" element, but Gerard's second element means "hardy" or "brave," not "ruler." The feminine form Geraldine was built from Gerald.
Gerald Name History & Origins
Norman settlers brought forms like Giralt and Giraut to England after the Conquest, and the name appears there in the 12th century, written in Latin documents as Geraldus. It traveled with the Anglo-Norman settlement of Ireland, where the surname FitzGerald ("son of Gerald") descends from Gerald of Windsor, an ancestor of the Fitzgerald families; the given name became well established there, and Irish uses the form Gearóid.
Several medieval churchmen carried the name. Gerald of Mayo was an Anglo-Saxon monk who settled in Ireland in the 8th century. Gerald of Aurillac (about 855 - 909), a French nobleman and monastery founder, was venerated in France as Géraud. Gerald of Wales (Giraldus Cambrensis, about 1146 - 1223) was a Norman-Welsh cleric and writer.
The short forms Gerry and Jerry developed from Gerald, though Jerry also serves as a nickname for Jerome, Jeremiah, and Gerard. The feminine Geraldine has been used in English since the 16th century and appears as a character name in Coleridge's poem Christabel.
How Popular is the Name Gerald?
Gerald ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1908 through 1909, then returned in 1911 and remained through 1971.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | #8,267 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1992 | #9,789 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #13,900 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #8,264 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1988 | #7,920 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1987 | #6,967 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1986 | #6,770 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1985 | #5,154 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1984 | #5,311 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1983 | #4,336 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1982 | #3,683 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1981 | #4,599 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1980 | #4,390 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1979 | #3,577 | 22 | 0.0014% |
| 1978 | #3,821 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1977 | #4,490 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1976 | #3,574 | 19 | 0.0013% |
| 1975 | #4,004 | 16 | 0.0011% |
| 1974 | #3,349 | 20 | 0.0014% |
| 1973 | #2,525 | 29 | 0.0020% |
| 1972 | #3,954 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1971 | #2,348 | 33 | 0.0020% |
| 1970 | #1,963 | 43 | 0.0025% |
| 1969 | #1,963 | 41 | 0.0024% |
| 1968 | #2,264 | 29 | 0.0018% |
| 1967 | #1,892 | 39 | 0.0024% |
| 1966 | #2,159 | 30 | 0.0018% |
| 1965 | #1,870 | 38 | 0.0022% |
| 1964 | #2,122 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 1963 | #2,073 | 33 | 0.0017% |
| 1962 | #2,090 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1961 | #1,730 | 44 | 0.0022% |
| 1960 | #1,902 | 36 | 0.0018% |
| 1959 | #1,728 | 41 | 0.0020% |
| 1958 | #1,917 | 33 | 0.0016% |
| 1957 | #1,880 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 1956 | #1,880 | 33 | 0.0016% |
| 1955 | #1,893 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1954 | #1,655 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 1953 | #1,687 | 35 | 0.0019% |
| 1952 | #1,756 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 1951 | #1,751 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 1950 | #1,461 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 1949 | #1,823 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1948 | #1,526 | 37 | 0.0022% |
| 1947 | #1,366 | 46 | 0.0026% |
| 1946 | #1,541 | 33 | 0.0021% |
| 1945 | #1,340 | 36 | 0.0028% |
| 1944 | #1,299 | 38 | 0.0029% |
| 1943 | #1,081 | 55 | 0.0039% |
| 1942 | #1,330 | 37 | 0.0027% |
| 1941 | #1,138 | 43 | 0.0036% |
| 1940 | #1,104 | 43 | 0.0038% |
| 1939 | #1,025 | 48 | 0.0044% |
| 1938 | #1,209 | 37 | 0.0034% |
| 1937 | #983 | 51 | 0.0048% |
| 1936 | #1,138 | 39 | 0.0037% |
| 1935 | #999 | 48 | 0.0046% |
| 1934 | #988 | 49 | 0.0047% |
| 1933 | #1,065 | 43 | 0.0043% |
| 1932 | #1,073 | 44 | 0.0041% |
| 1931 | #937 | 55 | 0.0052% |
| 1930 | #1,184 | 40 | 0.0036% |
| 1929 | #1,048 | 49 | 0.0044% |
| 1928 | #1,216 | 40 | 0.0035% |
| 1927 | #1,025 | 56 | 0.0047% |
| 1926 | #1,085 | 48 | 0.0040% |
| 1925 | #1,259 | 39 | 0.0032% |
| 1924 | #1,946 | 21 | 0.0017% |
| 1923 | #1,694 | 25 | 0.0021% |
| 1922 | #1,809 | 23 | 0.0019% |
| 1921 | #1,791 | 24 | 0.0019% |
| 1920 | #1,912 | 21 | 0.0018% |
| 1919 | #2,109 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1918 | #1,659 | 24 | 0.0021% |
| 1917 | #2,766 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1916 | #2,553 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1915 | #3,244 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1914 | #3,003 | 7 | 0.0009% |
| 1913 | #2,980 | 6 | 0.0010% |
| 1912 | #3,160 | 5 | 0.0009% |
| 1910 | #2,559 | 5 | 0.0013% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,206 | 168 | 0.0098% |
| 2024 | #1,167 | 178 | 0.0104% |
| 2023 | #1,031 | 212 | 0.0124% |
| 2022 | #1,065 | 206 | 0.0118% |
| 2021 | #1,010 | 217 | 0.0124% |
| 2020 | #955 | 230 | 0.0133% |
| 2019 | #892 | 245 | 0.0137% |
| 2018 | #895 | 242 | 0.0133% |
| 2017 | #825 | 271 | 0.0146% |
| 2016 | #810 | 284 | 0.0150% |
| 2015 | #765 | 312 | 0.0163% |
| 2014 | #810 | 281 | 0.0146% |
| 2013 | #715 | 329 | 0.0174% |
| 2012 | #684 | 346 | 0.0182% |
| 2011 | #628 | 373 | 0.0196% |
| 2010 | #679 | 348 | 0.0181% |
| 2009 | #630 | 396 | 0.0200% |
| 2008 | #604 | 415 | 0.0203% |
| 2007 | #544 | 472 | 0.0227% |
| 2006 | #545 | 465 | 0.0226% |
| 2005 | #520 | 472 | 0.0236% |
| 2004 | #463 | 552 | 0.0278% |
| 2003 | #474 | 529 | 0.0268% |
| 2002 | #444 | 556 | 0.0286% |
| 2001 | #411 | 609 | 0.0313% |
| 2000 | #382 | 680 | 0.0346% |
| 1999 | #379 | 686 | 0.0357% |
| 1998 | #376 | 671 | 0.0351% |
| 1997 | #336 | 773 | 0.0410% |
| 1996 | #322 | 822 | 0.0434% |
| 1995 | #299 | 889 | 0.0467% |
| 1994 | #284 | 954 | 0.0494% |
| 1993 | #256 | 1,116 | 0.0569% |
| 1992 | #245 | 1,174 | 0.0588% |
| 1991 | #235 | 1,261 | 0.0624% |
| 1990 | #212 | 1,451 | 0.0706% |
| 1989 | #201 | 1,469 | 0.0734% |
| 1988 | #194 | 1,403 | 0.0733% |
| 1987 | #190 | 1,441 | 0.0772% |
| 1986 | #183 | 1,455 | 0.0790% |
| 1985 | #181 | 1,446 | 0.0782% |
| 1984 | #176 | 1,444 | 0.0800% |
| 1983 | #167 | 1,550 | 0.0865% |
| 1982 | #158 | 1,718 | 0.0947% |
| 1981 | #154 | 1,764 | 0.0985% |
| 1980 | #148 | 1,819 | 0.1020% |
| 1979 | #144 | 1,863 | 0.1082% |
| 1978 | #137 | 1,889 | 0.1150% |
| 1977 | #131 | 2,046 | 0.1245% |
| 1976 | #120 | 2,140 | 0.1364% |
| 1975 | #108 | 2,398 | 0.1536% |
| 1974 | #108 | 2,417 | 0.1537% |
| 1973 | #102 | 2,593 | 0.1664% |
| 1972 | #102 | 2,816 | 0.1736% |
| 1971 | #83 | 3,588 | 0.2029% |
| 1970 | #67 | 4,399 | 0.2367% |
| 1969 | #65 | 4,384 | 0.2451% |
| 1968 | #62 | 4,475 | 0.2575% |
| 1967 | #59 | 4,875 | 0.2795% |
| 1966 | #60 | 4,863 | 0.2727% |
| 1965 | #64 | 5,252 | 0.2823% |
| 1964 | #60 | 5,870 | 0.2946% |
| 1963 | #60 | 6,153 | 0.3030% |
| 1962 | #65 | 6,233 | 0.3013% |
| 1961 | #62 | 6,629 | 0.3121% |
| 1960 | #62 | 6,566 | 0.3080% |
| 1959 | #61 | 6,635 | 0.3108% |
| 1958 | #58 | 6,866 | 0.3235% |
| 1957 | #51 | 7,596 | 0.3521% |
| 1956 | #49 | 7,991 | 0.3778% |
| 1955 | #48 | 8,073 | 0.3919% |
| 1954 | #44 | 8,550 | 0.4194% |
| 1953 | #42 | 8,619 | 0.4370% |
| 1952 | #39 | 9,031 | 0.4646% |
| 1951 | #36 | 9,539 | 0.5066% |
| 1950 | #34 | 9,725 | 0.5432% |
| 1949 | #33 | 9,809 | 0.5530% |
| 1948 | #30 | 9,842 | 0.5609% |
| 1947 | #28 | 10,750 | 0.5876% |
| 1946 | #27 | 10,034 | 0.6179% |
| 1945 | #25 | 8,857 | 0.6581% |
| 1944 | #24 | 10,021 | 0.7353% |
| 1943 | #23 | 11,368 | 0.7965% |
| 1942 | #22 | 11,483 | 0.8314% |
| 1941 | #20 | 10,941 | 0.8907% |
| 1940 | #21 | 10,237 | 0.8831% |
| 1939 | #19 | 10,057 | 0.9086% |
| 1938 | #19 | 9,972 | 0.8991% |
| 1937 | #20 | 9,424 | 0.8835% |
| 1936 | #19 | 9,017 | 0.8694% |
| 1935 | #21 | 8,458 | 0.8122% |
| 1934 | #22 | 7,816 | 0.7569% |
| 1933 | #22 | 7,422 | 0.7486% |
| 1932 | #24 | 7,347 | 0.7036% |
| 1931 | #26 | 6,823 | 0.6563% |
| 1930 | #30 | 6,482 | 0.5907% |
| 1929 | #33 | 5,966 | 0.5547% |
| 1928 | #41 | 5,487 | 0.4954% |
| 1927 | #38 | 5,511 | 0.4890% |
| 1926 | #41 | 5,123 | 0.4613% |
| 1925 | #45 | 4,507 | 0.4039% |
| 1924 | #49 | 4,151 | 0.3665% |
| 1923 | #54 | 3,696 | 0.3372% |
| 1922 | #58 | 3,541 | 0.3254% |
| 1921 | #60 | 3,382 | 0.3071% |
| 1920 | #64 | 3,157 | 0.2966% |
| 1919 | #70 | 2,689 | 0.2744% |
| 1918 | #72 | 2,712 | 0.2676% |
| 1917 | #69 | 2,486 | 0.2686% |
| 1916 | #76 | 2,260 | 0.2539% |
| 1915 | #78 | 2,085 | 0.2457% |
| 1914 | #81 | 1,468 | 0.2242% |
| 1913 | #84 | 1,142 | 0.2228% |
| 1912 | #87 | 929 | 0.2161% |
| 1911 | #88 | 462 | 0.2045% |
| 1910 | #105 | 289 | 0.1488% |
| 1909 | #95 | 301 | 0.1835% |
| 1908 | #97 | 270 | 0.1749% |
| 1907 | #102 | 239 | 0.1628% |
| 1906 | #112 | 191 | 0.1434% |
| 1905 | #113 | 189 | 0.1429% |
| 1904 | #106 | 201 | 0.1569% |
| 1903 | #107 | 182 | 0.1526% |
| 1902 | #127 | 151 | 0.1231% |
| 1901 | #124 | 133 | 0.1249% |
| 1900 | #140 | 157 | 0.1043% |
| 1899 | #144 | 108 | 0.1017% |
| 1898 | #165 | 100 | 0.0815% |
| 1897 | #166 | 93 | 0.0825% |
| 1896 | #169 | 95 | 0.0795% |
| 1895 | #193 | 76 | 0.0647% |
| 1894 | #197 | 75 | 0.0648% |
| 1893 | #230 | 55 | 0.0490% |
| 1892 | #221 | 62 | 0.0508% |
| 1891 | #239 | 45 | 0.0445% |
| 1890 | #258 | 44 | 0.0396% |
| 1889 | #234 | 48 | 0.0434% |
| 1888 | #337 | 30 | 0.0248% |
| 1887 | #352 | 22 | 0.0217% |
| 1886 | #322 | 28 | 0.0253% |
| 1885 | #368 | 23 | 0.0213% |
| 1884 | #419 | 19 | 0.0166% |
| 1883 | #503 | 13 | 0.0124% |
| 1882 | #478 | 15 | 0.0132% |
| 1881 | #470 | 14 | 0.0139% |
| 1880 | #586 | 11 | 0.0100% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Gerald
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
Most Popular Boy Names at All Time
Past Favorite Boy Names
Explore More Lists with Name Gerald
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with G
How the Name Gerald Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are introspective, prophetic, philosophical, and soul searching, but also can be analytical, critical and opinionated. You think deeply and clearly, have an air of mystery, can be solitary and secretive. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Gerald's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Gerald's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.