Geraldine Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: JER-uhl-deen //ˈdʒɛr.əl.diːn//
Origin: German; French
Meaning: German: rules by the spear; French: brave with a spear
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Geraldine has its roots in the Germanic elements "ger" meaning "spear" and "wald" meaning "rule". The name evolved through various linguistic stages, beginning with the Old High German form "Gerwald".
It was later adapted into Latin as "Geraldinus" and subsequently made its way into Old French as "Geraldine". This transition into English occurred during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when many Norman names entered the English lexicon, enriching the language with their distinct sounds and meanings.
Historically, the name Geraldine gained prominence in the 19th century, particularly through literary works. One notable milestone was the use of the name in the poem "Geraldine" by the English poet and playwright Sir Walter Scott, published in the early 1800s.
This period saw a revival of interest in medieval themes and names, and Scott's work contributed to the romanticized view of names like Geraldine, which were associated with nobility and chivalric ideals. The name also appeared in various literary contexts, reinforcing its association with grace and elegance.
Culturally, Geraldine has been linked to notions of strength and leadership due to its etymological roots in "spear" and "rule". This connection to power and authority has allowed the name to resonate through various cultural narratives, often embodying the qualities of a strong female character in literature and folklore.
Additionally, the diminutive form "Gerry" has been used affectionately, though it is less common in historical texts. Overall, the name Geraldine reflects a rich tapestry of linguistic evolution and cultural significance, embodying both strength and femininity.
Famous people named Geraldine
In this section, you will find notable people named Geraldine. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Geraldine who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Geraldine who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Geraldine Page was an actress best known for The Trip to Bountiful, Sweet Bird of Youth, and The Pope of Greenwich Village.
Geraldine Ferraro was a politician and attorney best known for being the first female Vice Presidential candidate representing a major U.S. political party.
Geraldine Chaplin is an actress best known for Limelight, Doctor Zhivago, and The Orphanage.
Geraldine McEwan was an actress best known for her role in Agatha Christie's Miss Marple, The Magdalene Sisters, and The Last of the Blonde Bombshells.
Fictional characters named Geraldine
The following list of fictional characters named Geraldine is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Geraldine is a fictional character from the comic strip and animated series Peanuts. She is a friend of Charlie Brown and is known for her cheerful personality.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Geraldine, 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 Geraldine. 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 Geraldine was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Geraldine has ranked as high as #84 nationally, which occurred in 1930, and has been most popular in New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, and California.
In the past 5 years the name Geraldine has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Geraldine 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 Geraldine 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 Geraldine.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 73 | 0 | 73 |
| 2024 | 98 | 0 | 98 |
| 2023 | 131 | 0 | 131 |
| 2022 | 131 | 0 | 131 |
| 2021 | 132 | 0 | 132 |
| 2020 | 98 | 0 | 98 |
| 2019 | 147 | 0 | 147 |
| 2018 | 121 | 0 | 121 |
| 2017 | 132 | 0 | 132 |
| 2016 | 140 | 0 | 140 |
| 2015 | 130 | 0 | 130 |
| 2014 | 158 | 0 | 158 |
| 2013 | 163 | 0 | 163 |
| 2012 | 254 | 0 | 254 |
| 2011 | 265 | 0 | 265 |
| 2010 | 209 | 0 | 209 |
| 2009 | 202 | 0 | 202 |
| 2008 | 165 | 0 | 165 |
| 2007 | 137 | 0 | 137 |
| 2006 | 144 | 0 | 144 |
| 2005 | 165 | 0 | 165 |
| 2004 | 186 | 0 | 186 |
| 2003 | 127 | 0 | 127 |
| 2002 | 92 | 0 | 92 |
| 2001 | 104 | 0 | 104 |
| 2000 | 95 | 0 | 95 |
| 1999 | 82 | 0 | 82 |
| 1998 | 94 | 0 | 94 |
| 1997 | 83 | 0 | 83 |
| 1996 | 90 | 0 | 90 |
| 1995 | 115 | 0 | 115 |
| 1994 | 102 | 0 | 102 |
| 1993 | 119 | 0 | 119 |
| 1992 | 153 | 0 | 153 |
| 1991 | 162 | 0 | 162 |
| 1990 | 198 | 0 | 198 |
| 1989 | 256 | 6 | 250 |
| 1988 | 366 | 11 | 355 |
| 1987 | 138 | 0 | 138 |
| 1986 | 122 | 0 | 122 |
| 1985 | 125 | 0 | 125 |
| 1984 | 107 | 0 | 107 |
| 1983 | 103 | 0 | 103 |
| 1982 | 130 | 5 | 125 |
| 1981 | 127 | 0 | 127 |
| 1980 | 109 | 0 | 109 |
| 1979 | 112 | 0 | 112 |
| 1978 | 120 | 0 | 120 |
| 1977 | 120 | 0 | 120 |
| 1976 | 163 | 0 | 163 |
| 1975 | 156 | 0 | 156 |
| 1974 | 179 | 0 | 179 |
| 1973 | 236 | 0 | 236 |
| 1972 | 218 | 0 | 218 |
| 1971 | 411 | 0 | 411 |
| 1970 | 517 | 0 | 517 |
| 1969 | 566 | 0 | 566 |
| 1968 | 676 | 6 | 670 |
| 1967 | 750 | 9 | 741 |
| 1966 | 831 | 8 | 823 |
| 1965 | 916 | 0 | 916 |
| 1964 | 1,102 | 0 | 1,102 |
| 1963 | 1,059 | 0 | 1,059 |
| 1962 | 1,206 | 7 | 1,199 |
| 1961 | 1,288 | 5 | 1,283 |
| 1960 | 1,430 | 0 | 1,430 |
| 1959 | 1,452 | 0 | 1,452 |
| 1958 | 1,565 | 0 | 1,565 |
| 1957 | 1,862 | 7 | 1,855 |
| 1956 | 2,068 | 7 | 2,061 |
| 1955 | 2,209 | 12 | 2,197 |
| 1954 | 2,581 | 10 | 2,571 |
| 1953 | 2,683 | 10 | 2,673 |
| 1952 | 3,059 | 12 | 3,047 |
| 1951 | 3,355 | 5 | 3,350 |
| 1950 | 3,460 | 9 | 3,451 |
| 1949 | 3,933 | 14 | 3,919 |
| 1948 | 4,221 | 13 | 4,208 |
| 1947 | 4,825 | 14 | 4,811 |
| 1946 | 4,867 | 18 | 4,849 |
| 1945 | 4,490 | 15 | 4,475 |
| 1944 | 4,686 | 20 | 4,666 |
| 1943 | 5,209 | 20 | 5,189 |
| 1942 | 5,468 | 31 | 5,437 |
| 1941 | 5,264 | 35 | 5,229 |
| 1940 | 5,173 | 23 | 5,150 |
| 1939 | 5,185 | 25 | 5,160 |
| 1938 | 4,671 | 19 | 4,652 |
| 1937 | 4,574 | 18 | 4,556 |
| 1936 | 4,887 | 23 | 4,864 |
| 1935 | 4,841 | 23 | 4,818 |
| 1934 | 4,857 | 20 | 4,837 |
| 1933 | 4,981 | 19 | 4,962 |
| 1932 | 5,359 | 27 | 5,332 |
| 1931 | 5,441 | 28 | 5,413 |
| 1930 | 5,471 | 23 | 5,448 |
| 1929 | 5,355 | 21 | 5,334 |
| 1928 | 5,175 | 19 | 5,156 |
| 1927 | 4,952 | 22 | 4,930 |
| 1926 | 4,832 | 20 | 4,812 |
| 1925 | 4,852 | 14 | 4,838 |
| 1924 | 4,848 | 15 | 4,833 |
| 1923 | 4,723 | 11 | 4,712 |
| 1922 | 4,652 | 11 | 4,641 |
| 1921 | 4,532 | 9 | 4,523 |
| 1920 | 4,274 | 9 | 4,265 |
| 1919 | 3,739 | 12 | 3,727 |
| 1918 | 3,456 | 10 | 3,446 |
| 1917 | 2,897 | 0 | 2,897 |
| 1916 | 2,555 | 6 | 2,549 |
| 1915 | 1,872 | 6 | 1,866 |
| 1914 | 1,320 | 0 | 1,320 |
| 1913 | 1,064 | 6 | 1,058 |
| 1912 | 949 | 0 | 949 |
| 1911 | 627 | 0 | 627 |
| 1910 | 551 | 0 | 551 |
| 1909 | 444 | 0 | 444 |
| 1908 | 362 | 0 | 362 |
| 1907 | 344 | 0 | 344 |
| 1906 | 321 | 0 | 321 |
| 1905 | 259 | 0 | 259 |
| 1904 | 219 | 0 | 219 |
| 1903 | 198 | 0 | 198 |
| 1902 | 156 | 0 | 156 |
| 1901 | 141 | 0 | 141 |
| 1900 | 145 | 0 | 145 |
| 1899 | 130 | 0 | 130 |
| 1898 | 110 | 0 | 110 |
| 1897 | 86 | 0 | 86 |
| 1896 | 86 | 0 | 86 |
| 1895 | 81 | 0 | 81 |
| 1894 | 73 | 0 | 73 |
| 1893 | 56 | 0 | 56 |
| 1892 | 60 | 0 | 60 |
| 1891 | 49 | 0 | 49 |
| 1890 | 27 | 0 | 27 |
| 1889 | 29 | 0 | 29 |
| 1888 | 40 | 0 | 40 |
| 1887 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1886 | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| 1885 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| 1884 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| 1883 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1882 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1881 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1880 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Top States for Geraldine (2024)
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.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 23 | |
| TX | 21 | |
| NY | 9 | |
| AZ | 5 | |
| IL | 5 | |
| OH | 5 |