Boy name · Germanic
Gerald
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: power of the spearGerald is a boy's name that comes from Germanic and means "power of the spear". It is used in English and Irish.
- Meaning
- Power of the spear
- Origin
- Germanic
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #1206 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Gerald
As a boy's name, Gerald comes from Germanic and means "power of the spear". It is used in English and Irish.
Its meaning puts Gerald on our names that mean strong list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Gerald on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Gerald on 11 lists.
“For a cat who seems to be reading the newspaper”
From Boy cat names, human names for boy cats
“A very serious name for a very unserious dog”
From Boy dog names, human names for boy dogs
“Rule of the spear; Germanic. Mid-century strength”
From Boy middle names, strong boy middle names
“Sounds like the reindeer who files the sleigh paperwork”
From Reindeer names, funny reindeer names
“Sounds like it files paperwork on time”
From Funny computer names, funny names for a computer
“Every turtle deserves a dignified human name”
From Funny hunter names for WoW, funny WoW pet names
“An ordinary name that sounds hilarious shouted”
From Funny names at Starbucks, silly names to say out loud
“Plants with plain human names are always funnier”
From Funny plant names, funny plant names
“Power of the spear; Germanic. Common in Ireland for centuries”
From Names that mean warrior, names that mean spear, sword or arrow
“Power of the spear; Germanic. Gerry for short”
From Old man names, old boy names from the 1900s to 1920s
“Wears a tiny invisible cardigan at all times”
From Outrageous pet names, human names for pets
How popular is Gerald?
- US rank in 2025
- #1,206
- 168 babies, 98 per million boys
- Best rank
- #19 in 1936
- Most babies: 11,484 in 1942
- Babies since 1880
- At least 448,966
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 204 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 660 per million |
| 1900s | 1,484 per million |
| 1910s | 2,475 per million |
| 1920s | 4,040 per million |
| 1930s | 7,838 per million |
| 1940s | 6,942 per million |
| 1950s | 4,087 per million |
| 1960s | 2,871 per million |
| 1970s | 1,583 per million |
| 1980s | 840 per million |
| 1990s | 503 per million |
| 2000s | 258 per million |
| 2010s | 161 per million |
| 2020s | 117 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #810 | #825 | #895 | #892 | #955 | #1,012 | #1,066 | #1,029 | #1,171 | #1,206 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Nicknames for Gerald
Established short forms and pet names, not made-up ones.
- Gerrycommon English nickname
- Jerrycommon English nickname
Names spelled like Gerald
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- GerardBrave spear (Germanic, boy)
- GeraldoSpear rule (Germanic, boy)
- GerhardBrave spear (Germanic, boy)
- GerardoBrave spear (Germanic, boy)
- GerdBrave spear (Germanic, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- EdgarWealthy spear (Old English, boy)
- ArnoldEagle power (Germanic, boy)
- GertrudeSpear of strength (Germanic, girl)
- AnsgarGod spear (Germanic, boy)
- BerengariaBear and spear (Germanic, girl)
- GeraldinePower of the spear (Germanic, girl)
- GerbergaSpear protection (Germanic, girl)
- HolgerIsland spear (Old Norse, boy)
- OswaldPower of a god (Old English, boy)
- RogerFamous spear (Germanic, boy)
Middle names for Gerald
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Germanic
- HugoHeart, mind (Germanic, boy)
- LiamShort for William, will helmet (Germanic, boy)
- RobertBright fame (Germanic, boy)
- LambertBright land (Germanic, boy)
- LeonardoBrave lion (Germanic, boy)
- AlaricRuler of all (Germanic, boy)
- AlbertNoble and bright (Germanic, boy)
- AlbertoNoble and bright (Germanic, boy)
- ArmandoArmy man (Germanic, boy)
- ArnoEagle (Germanic, boy)
Gerald: common questions
What does the name Gerald mean?
Gerald comes from Germanic and means "power of the spear".
Is Gerald a boy or girl name?
Gerald is mainly a boy's name.
What are nicknames for Gerald?
Common nicknames for Gerald include Gerry and Jerry.
How popular is the name Gerald?
Gerald ranked #1,206 in the US in 2025, with 168 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Gerald?
Names spelled like Gerald include Gerard, Geraldo, Gerhard, Gerardo and Gerd.
What middle names go with Gerald?
Middle names that flow well with Gerald include Abel, Beau, Eli, Jack and James. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.