Gerard Boy

Popularity: #843 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: juh-RARD //dʒəˈrɑrd//

Origin: Germanic; Old French

Meaning: Germanic: spear strength; Old French: brave with a spear

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Gerard has its roots in the Germanic elements "ger" meaning "spear" and "hard" meaning "brave" or "strong." This etymology reflects a warrior ethos, which was significant in the early medieval period. The name was introduced into the English language through the Old French form "Gerard," which itself derived from the earlier Germanic forms.

The transition from Germanic to Old French occurred as a result of the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, which brought many Norman names into English usage, including Gerard. Historically, the name Gerard has been borne by several notable figures, including Saint Gerard Majella, a 18th-century Italian saint known for his piety and miracles, who became the patron saint of expectant mothers.

His life and works contributed to the name's significance in Christian contexts. Additionally, Gerard of Cremona, a 12th-century scholar, was instrumental in translating many important works from Arabic to Latin, further embedding the name in the intellectual history of Europe.

The name appears in various historical texts and documents throughout the Middle Ages, reflecting its adoption and use across different regions. Culturally, the name Gerard has been associated with qualities of strength and bravery, resonating with the martial connotations of its etymological roots.

It has been used in various forms of literature and art, symbolizing noble characteristics. The diminutive form "Gerry" has also emerged, although it is less commonly noted in historical texts.

Overall, the name Gerard has maintained a presence in European history, reflecting both its linguistic origins and its cultural significance.

Famous people named Gerard

In this section, you will find notable people named Gerard. 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 Gerard who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Gerard 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.

Gerard Butler is an actor best known for 300, The Phantom of the Opera, and Olympus Has Fallen.

Gerard Depardieu is an actor best known for Cyrano de Bergerac, Green Card, and The Last Metro.

Gerard Way is a musician best known for being the lead vocalist of My Chemical Romance and for his comic book series The Umbrella Academy.

Fictional characters named Gerard

The following list of fictional characters named Gerard 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.

Gerard Way is a fictional character from the comic book series The Umbrella Academy. He is the lead singer of the band My Chemical Romance and serves as a significant influence on the story's themes and characters.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Gerard, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

GarethGideonGavinGregoryGrahamGalen

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Gerard. 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.

GeraldGordonGilbertGideonGarethGrahamGalenGervase

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Gerard was first seen in the United States in 1886.

Gerard has ranked as high as #382 nationally, which occurred in 1956, and has been most popular in New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and California.

In the past 5 years the name Gerard has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Gerard 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 Gerard 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 Gerard.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 95 95 0
2024 115 115 0
2023 130 130 0
2022 128 128 0
2021 121 121 0
2020 119 119 0
2019 116 116 0
2018 149 149 0
2017 161 161 0
2016 160 160 0
2015 180 180 0
2014 202 202 0
2013 183 183 0
2012 171 171 0
2011 172 172 0
2010 140 140 0
2009 130 130 0
2008 126 126 0
2007 100 100 0
2006 117 117 0
2005 113 113 0
2004 124 124 0
2003 134 134 0
2002 156 156 0
2001 146 146 0
2000 194 194 0
1999 175 175 0
1998 175 175 0
1997 190 190 0
1996 195 195 0
1995 213 213 0
1994 258 258 0
1993 250 250 0
1992 268 268 0
1991 309 309 0
1990 350 350 0
1989 326 326 0
1988 327 327 0
1987 320 314 6
1986 338 330 8
1985 343 343 0
1984 336 336 0
1983 303 303 0
1982 366 366 0
1981 316 316 0
1980 342 342 0
1979 341 336 5
1978 337 337 0
1977 348 348 0
1976 374 367 7
1975 399 399 0
1974 393 387 6
1973 377 377 0
1972 399 399 0
1971 516 516 0
1970 547 547 0
1969 543 543 0
1968 585 585 0
1967 665 665 0
1966 795 795 0
1965 832 827 5
1964 1,028 1,023 5
1963 1,072 1,072 0
1962 1,129 1,121 8
1961 1,315 1,309 6
1960 1,397 1,397 0
1959 1,399 1,399 0
1958 1,480 1,475 5
1957 1,517 1,517 0
1956 1,617 1,617 0
1955 1,526 1,521 5
1954 1,520 1,520 0
1953 1,366 1,366 0
1952 1,347 1,338 9
1951 1,303 1,303 0
1950 1,160 1,160 0
1949 1,044 1,044 0
1948 972 972 0
1947 988 983 5
1946 884 884 0
1945 681 681 0
1944 720 720 0
1943 770 770 0
1942 832 832 0
1941 694 689 5
1940 553 553 0
1939 521 521 0
1938 536 536 0
1937 478 478 0
1936 468 468 0
1935 525 525 0
1934 550 545 5
1933 536 536 0
1932 542 542 0
1931 551 551 0
1930 606 601 5
1929 552 552 0
1928 594 594 0
1927 629 629 0
1926 593 586 7
1925 554 554 0
1924 541 541 0
1923 554 554 0
1922 547 542 5
1921 530 530 0
1920 408 408 0
1919 410 410 0
1918 447 447 0
1917 413 413 0
1916 359 359 0
1915 323 323 0
1914 236 236 0
1913 206 201 5
1912 149 149 0
1911 89 89 0
1910 49 49 0
1909 39 39 0
1908 30 30 0
1907 32 32 0
1906 25 25 0
1905 25 25 0
1904 18 18 0
1903 11 11 0
1902 8 8 0
1901 15 15 0
1900 11 11 0
1899 5 5 0
1898 5 5 0
1897 5 5 0
1896 10 10 0
1895 14 14 0
1894 9 9 0
1892 5 5 0
1891 8 8 0
1889 9 9 0
1886 5 5 0

Top States for Gerard (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
NY 13
22%
NJ 12
20%
PA 7
12%
TX 6
10%
CA 6
10%
MD 6
10%
FL 5
8%
MA 5
8%