Gerold Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: GER-uhld //ˈɡɛr.əld//
Origin: German; Old High German
Meaning: Spear ruler; brave with a spear
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Gerold has its roots in the Germanic elements "ger" meaning "spear" and "wald" meaning "rule" or "power." This etymological foundation reflects a warrior ethos, common in names derived from Germanic languages. The name evolved through various forms, appearing as "Gerwald" in Old High German before being adapted into the Latinized form "Geroldus," which was later anglicized to Gerold in English.
The transition into English likely occurred during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when many Germanic names were integrated into the English lexicon through Old French influences. Historically, the name Gerold is associated with several notable figures in medieval Europe.
One prominent example is Gerold of Vinzgau, a nobleman in the 8th century who was a supporter of Charlemagne and played a significant role in the expansion of the Frankish Empire. Additionally, the name appears in various historical documents and records throughout the Middle Ages, often linked to nobility and landowners, which helped solidify its status in Germanic and later English-speaking cultures.
Culturally, the name Gerold has been associated with strength and leadership, reflecting its meaning related to power and rule. This connection to nobility and military prowess contributed to its endurance in various forms across different regions.
In some cultures, diminutive forms such as "Ger" or "Gerry" have emerged, but these variations are less historically significant than the original form. Overall, Gerold embodies a rich historical legacy that intertwines with themes of governance and martial valor.
Famous people named Gerold
In this section, you will find notable people named Gerold. 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 Gerold who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Gerold 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.
Gerold Schneider is a German artist best known for his contemporary paintings and installations.
Gerold McBoing Boing is a character best known for the animated television series Gerold McBoing Boing.
Gerold S. Stoll is a scientist best known for his research in the field of environmental science.
Fictional characters named Gerold
The following list of fictional characters named Gerold 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.
Gerold is a fictional character from the book series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. He is a member of House Hightower and plays a significant role in the political intrigues of Westeros.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Gerold, 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 Gerold. 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 Gerold was first seen in the United States in 1912.
Gerold has ranked as high as #777 nationally, which occurred in 1939, and has been most popular in Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, California, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Gerold has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Gerold 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 Gerold was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Gerold (1974)
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 | 5 |
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 Gerold.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 1999 | 5 |
| 1998 | 7 |
| 1995 | 7 |
| 1994 | 5 |
| 1993 | 8 |
| 1992 | 5 |
| 1991 | 7 |
| 1990 | 12 |
| 1989 | 7 |
| 1988 | 15 |
| 1987 | 14 |
| 1986 | 14 |
| 1985 | 8 |
| 1984 | 9 |
| 1983 | 10 |
| 1982 | 9 |
| 1981 | 13 |
| 1980 | 18 |
| 1979 | 14 |
| 1978 | 9 |
| 1977 | 22 |
| 1976 | 12 |
| 1975 | 10 |
| 1974 | 23 |
| 1973 | 23 |
| 1972 | 17 |
| 1971 | 21 |
| 1970 | 37 |
| 1969 | 27 |
| 1968 | 23 |
| 1967 | 35 |
| 1966 | 31 |
| 1965 | 42 |
| 1964 | 36 |
| 1963 | 43 |
| 1962 | 37 |
| 1961 | 43 |
| 1960 | 45 |
| 1959 | 49 |
| 1958 | 48 |
| 1957 | 54 |
| 1956 | 67 |
| 1955 | 50 |
| 1954 | 61 |
| 1953 | 65 |
| 1952 | 61 |
| 1951 | 66 |
| 1950 | 56 |
| 1949 | 75 |
| 1948 | 64 |
| 1947 | 59 |
| 1946 | 68 |
| 1945 | 67 |
| 1944 | 60 |
| 1943 | 63 |
| 1942 | 79 |
| 1941 | 75 |
| 1940 | 52 |
| 1939 | 90 |
| 1938 | 75 |
| 1937 | 58 |
| 1936 | 49 |
| 1935 | 52 |
| 1934 | 61 |
| 1933 | 53 |
| 1932 | 60 |
| 1931 | 32 |
| 1930 | 55 |
| 1929 | 36 |
| 1928 | 36 |
| 1927 | 38 |
| 1926 | 33 |
| 1925 | 32 |
| 1924 | 20 |
| 1923 | 24 |
| 1922 | 22 |
| 1921 | 30 |
| 1920 | 18 |
| 1919 | 24 |
| 1918 | 14 |
| 1917 | 17 |
| 1916 | 16 |
| 1915 | 13 |
| 1914 | 6 |
| 1913 | 17 |
| 1912 | 8 |