Geraldo Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: heh-RAL-do /hɛˈɹɑːl.doʊ/
Origin: Spanish; Portuguese; Italian
Meaning: Spanish: 'spear ruler'; Portuguese: 'brave spear'; Italian: 'ruler with a spear'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Geraldo has its roots in the Germanic elements "ger" meaning "spear" and "wald" meaning "rule" or "power." This combination conveys a sense of strength and leadership. The name evolved through various linguistic stages, first appearing in Old High German as "Gerwald".
It later transitioned into the Latinized form "Geraldus" during the medieval period, which was then adopted into Old French as "Gérald". The name made its way into English usage through Norman influence after the Conquest in the 11th century, becoming "Gerald" and its variant forms, including Geraldo.
Historically, the name has been borne by several notable figures, particularly in the medieval period. One prominent example is Saint Gerald of Aurillac, a French saint from the 9th century, who is celebrated for his piety and contributions to the Christian faith.
His canonization and the subsequent veneration of saints in the Christian tradition helped to solidify the name's presence in various cultures. Additionally, the name appears in historical texts and genealogies, often associated with nobility and landholding families in England and France.
Culturally, the name Geraldo and its variants have been associated with themes of nobility and valor, reflecting its etymological roots. The name has also been linked to various literary and artistic works throughout history, where characters named Gerald or its variants often embody leadership qualities or heroic traits.
The diminutive form "Gerry" has also been used, although it is less common in historical texts. Overall, the name Geraldo carries a legacy of strength and leadership that has resonated through centuries.
Famous people named Geraldo
In this section, you will find notable people named Geraldo. 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 Geraldo who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Geraldo 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.
Geraldo Rivera is a television personality and journalist best known for his work on 20/20, Geraldo at Large, and The Mystery of Al Capone's Vault.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Geraldo, 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 Geraldo. 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 Geraldo was first seen in the United States in 1948.
Geraldo has ranked as high as #1050 nationally, which occurred in 1988, and has been most popular in New York, California, Texas, Florida, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Geraldo has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Geraldo 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 Geraldo was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Geraldo (2012)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 6 |
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 Geraldo.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2012 | 31 |
| 2011 | 20 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2009 | 21 |
| 2008 | 33 |
| 2007 | 36 |
| 2006 | 17 |
| 2005 | 24 |
| 2004 | 28 |
| 2003 | 24 |
| 2002 | 33 |
| 2001 | 32 |
| 2000 | 39 |
| 1999 | 36 |
| 1998 | 34 |
| 1997 | 39 |
| 1996 | 48 |
| 1995 | 44 |
| 1994 | 64 |
| 1993 | 71 |
| 1992 | 74 |
| 1991 | 66 |
| 1990 | 91 |
| 1989 | 101 |
| 1988 | 115 |
| 1987 | 75 |
| 1986 | 43 |
| 1985 | 50 |
| 1984 | 53 |
| 1983 | 48 |
| 1982 | 45 |
| 1981 | 44 |
| 1980 | 50 |
| 1979 | 47 |
| 1978 | 49 |
| 1977 | 48 |
| 1976 | 53 |
| 1975 | 39 |
| 1974 | 46 |
| 1973 | 34 |
| 1972 | 33 |
| 1971 | 28 |
| 1970 | 36 |
| 1969 | 36 |
| 1968 | 31 |
| 1967 | 32 |
| 1966 | 20 |
| 1965 | 32 |
| 1964 | 20 |
| 1963 | 22 |
| 1962 | 23 |
| 1961 | 13 |
| 1960 | 13 |
| 1959 | 16 |
| 1958 | 16 |
| 1957 | 5 |
| 1956 | 12 |
| 1954 | 16 |
| 1953 | 5 |
| 1951 | 6 |
| 1950 | 5 |
| 1948 | 5 |