How Many People Are Named Gerald?
Complete statistics for the name Gerald: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Gerald, an uncommon male name with roots in Old German, means 'rule with spear'. It's rare, with just 1 in 1,488 Americans bearing this moniker. The majority of people named Gerald are over 60, reflecting its status as a classic, old-school name.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 11 is often associated with spiritual insight and visionary leadership.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 77All 451,167 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1942Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Gerald Through the Generations
Gerald has been a steady presence in American naming trends since the early 20th century, peaking in popularity during World War II with 11,520 births in 1942. Today, there are approximately 221,711 people named Gerald living in the United States, making up less than 1% of the population. The age distribution reveals a significant skew towards older generations, with 82% of those named Gerald being over 60 years old, indicating a strong association with mid-century naming conventions.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Gerald
Gerald is a masculine given name derived from the Germanic languages prefix ger- ("spear") and suffix -wald ("rule"). Gerald is a Norman French variant of the Germanic name. An Old English equivalent name was Garweald, the likely original name of Gerald of Mayo, a British Roman Catholic monk who established a monastery in Mayo, Ireland in 670. Nearly two centuries later, Gerald of Aurillac, a French count, took a vow of celibacy and later became known as the Roman Catholic patron saint of bachelors. The name was in regular use during the Middle Ages but declined after 1300 in England. It remai…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Gerald's Old German roots
📄 About the Name Gerald
How Many People Have the Name Gerald?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 4,847 people in the United States currently share the name Gerald. That works out to roughly 1 in every 68,382 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.
Is Gerald a Common or Rare Name?
Gerald is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Gerald Mean?
Gerald means "rule with spear" and comes from Old German origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 11.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Gerald in SSA data, approximately 99% are male and 1% are female.
When Was Gerald Most Popular?
The name Gerald reached peak popularity in 1942, with 11,520 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Gerald?
Approximately 4,847 people named Gerald live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 4,847. That works out to roughly 1 in 68,382 Americans.
Is Gerald a rare name?
Gerald is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 68,382 Americans has this name.
What does the name Gerald mean?
Gerald means "rule with spear" and comes from Old German origins.
Is Gerald more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 99% of people named Gerald are male and 1% are female.
When was Gerald most popular?
Gerald peaked in 1942 with 11,520 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.