Garald Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: GAIR-ald //ˈɡɛr.əld//
Origin: Germanic; Old English
Meaning: Germanic: rules with a spear; Old English: spear ruler
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Garald has its roots in the Old High German name "Gerwald," which is composed of the elements "ger," meaning "spear," and "wald," meaning "rule" or "power." This name evolved through various linguistic stages, transitioning into the Old French form "Geraud" before making its way into Middle English as "Gerald." The adoption of the name into English can be traced back to the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, when many Old French names were introduced into the English lexicon, particularly among the nobility and landowners. Historically, the name Gerald has been borne by several notable figures, including Saint Gerald of Aurillac, a 9th-century French saint who is venerated in the Catholic Church.
His life and deeds contributed to the name's prominence in medieval Europe. Additionally, the name appears in various historical texts, including the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded landholdings in England and included individuals named Gerald.
The name has also been associated with various English nobility, such as the Gerald family in Ireland, which traces its lineage back to the Anglo-Norman invasion in the 12th century. Culturally, the name Garald and its variants have been linked to themes of strength and leadership, reflecting the meanings of its components.
The imagery of the spear as a symbol of power and protection resonates with the martial traditions of medieval Europe. Diminutive forms such as "Gerry" have emerged over time, though they are less frequently noted in historical contexts.
Overall, the name Garald carries a legacy that intertwines linguistic evolution, historical significance, and cultural symbolism.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Garald, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Garald. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Garald was first seen in the United States in 1913.
Garald has ranked as high as #3187 nationally, which occurred in 1949, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Garald has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Garald is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Garald was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Garald.
| Year | Total Births | Boy |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 6 | 6 |
| 1980 | 6 | 6 |
| 1972 | 7 | 7 |
| 1970 | 5 | 5 |
| 1968 | 8 | 8 |
| 1967 | 5 | 5 |
| 1966 | 5 | 5 |
| 1964 | 5 | 5 |
| 1962 | 6 | 6 |
| 1960 | 8 | 8 |
| 1959 | 12 | 12 |
| 1958 | 8 | 8 |
| 1957 | 10 | 10 |
| 1956 | 11 | 11 |
| 1955 | 9 | 9 |
| 1954 | 16 | 16 |
| 1953 | 8 | 8 |
| 1952 | 12 | 12 |
| 1951 | 11 | 11 |
| 1950 | 16 | 16 |
| 1949 | 25 | 25 |
| 1948 | 12 | 12 |
| 1947 | 14 | 14 |
| 1946 | 13 | 13 |
| 1945 | 10 | 10 |
| 1944 | 11 | 11 |
| 1943 | 12 | 12 |
| 1942 | 13 | 13 |
| 1941 | 17 | 17 |
| 1940 | 11 | 11 |
| 1939 | 13 | 13 |
| 1938 | 12 | 12 |
| 1937 | 11 | 11 |
| 1936 | 8 | 8 |
| 1935 | 7 | 7 |
| 1934 | 5 | 5 |
| 1933 | 7 | 7 |
| 1932 | 7 | 7 |
| 1930 | 8 | 8 |
| 1929 | 5 | 5 |
| 1928 | 7 | 7 |
| 1927 | 6 | 6 |
| 1926 | 5 | 5 |
| 1925 | 10 | 10 |
| 1923 | 8 | 8 |
| 1922 | 8 | 8 |
| 1921 | 5 | 5 |
| 1920 | 8 | 8 |
| 1918 | 8 | 8 |
| 1917 | 6 | 6 |
| 1915 | 8 | 8 |
| 1913 | 6 | 6 |
Top States for Garald
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
No state data available for this year.