Geraldo Boy

Popularity: #933 · Trend: ↘ Falling

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.

FernandoRicardoEduardoAlbertoCarlosMiguel

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.

GeraldGerardoGideonGinoGonzaloGiorgioGustavo

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Geraldo was first seen in the United States in 1948.

Geraldo has ranked as high as #2103 nationally, which occurred in 1988, and has been most popular in New York, California, Texas, New Jersey, and Florida.

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.

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 Total Births Boy
2025 5 5
2024 5 5
2023 10 10
2022 7 7
2021 11 11
2020 9 9
2019 7 7
2018 7 7
2017 11 11
2016 13 13
2015 12 12
2014 7 7
2013 8 8
2012 31 31
2011 20 20
2010 13 13
2009 21 21
2008 33 33
2007 36 36
2006 17 17
2005 24 24
2004 28 28
2003 24 24
2002 33 33
2001 32 32
2000 39 39
1999 36 36
1998 34 34
1997 39 39
1996 48 48
1995 44 44
1994 64 64
1993 71 71
1992 74 74
1991 66 66
1990 91 91
1989 101 101
1988 115 115
1987 75 75
1986 43 43
1985 50 50
1984 53 53
1983 48 48
1982 45 45
1981 44 44
1980 50 50
1979 47 47
1978 49 49
1977 48 48
1976 53 53
1975 39 39
1974 46 46
1973 34 34
1972 33 33
1971 28 28
1970 36 36
1969 36 36
1968 31 31
1967 32 32
1966 20 20
1965 32 32
1964 20 20
1963 22 22
1962 23 23
1961 13 13
1960 13 13
1959 16 16
1958 16 16
1957 5 5
1956 12 12
1954 16 16
1953 5 5
1951 6 6
1950 5 5
1948 5 5

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. 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 6
100%