Gerry Unisex

Popularity: #930 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: JER-ee //ˈdʒɛri//

Origin: Irish; German

Meaning: Irish: spear ruler; German: rules with a spear

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Gerry is derived from the Old French name "Geri," which itself originates from the Germanic elements "ger" meaning "spear" and "wald" meaning "rule" or "power." This etymological path traces back to the Proto-Germanic *gēr and *waldaz, which evolved into various forms in different Germanic languages. The name entered the English language through the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, as many Old French names were adopted into English during this period, leading to the eventual anglicization of Geri into Gerry.

Historically, the name Gerry has been associated with several notable figures. One such figure is Saint Gerald of Aurillac, a 9th-century French saint whose life and deeds were recorded in hagiographies, contributing to the name's religious significance.

Additionally, the name has been borne by various nobles and leaders throughout medieval Europe, further embedding it within the cultural fabric of the time. The name's presence in literature and historical texts can be traced back to the Middle Ages, where it appeared in various forms, including Gerald, which is a related name.

Culturally, Gerry has often been associated with strength and leadership due to its meaning related to power and rule. This connotation has allowed the name to resonate through various cultures and eras, maintaining its relevance over centuries.

The diminutive form Gerry is commonly used as a familiar or affectionate variant of Gerald, which has also contributed to its endurance in various linguistic contexts. Overall, the name Gerry reflects a rich tapestry of linguistic evolution, historical significance, and cultural resonance.

Famous people named Gerry

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

We also feature individuals named Gerry 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.

Gerry Adams is a politician best known for his leadership in Sinn Féin and his role in the Northern Ireland peace process.

Gerry Beckley is a musician best known for being a member of the band America and for songs like A Horse with No Name.

Gerry Mulligan is a jazz musician best known for his work as a baritone saxophonist and arranger, particularly in the cool jazz genre.

Gerry Anderson is a television producer best known for creating the Supermarionation series including Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet.

Gerry Cooney is a former professional boxer best known for his fights against Larry Holmes and George Foreman.

Fictional characters named Gerry

The following list of fictional characters named Gerry 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.

Gerry is a fictional character from the video game series Silent Hill. He is a key figure in the backstory of the series, often referenced in relation to the protagonist's journey and the town's mysteries.

Sibling suggestions

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

GaryJerryTerryBarryLarryHarry

Similar names

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

GarryJerryTerryDerryKerryMerryPerryWerry

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Gerry was first seen in the United States in 1904.

Gerry has ranked as high as #655 nationally, which occurred in 1957, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Illinois, New York, and Michigan.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Gerry 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 Gerry 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 Gerry.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 8 8 0
2024 9 9 0
2023 11 11 0
2022 6 6 0
2021 8 8 0
2020 17 17 0
2019 16 16 0
2018 9 9 0
2017 13 13 0
2016 20 20 0
2015 7 7 0
2014 16 16 0
2013 17 17 0
2012 8 8 0
2011 16 16 0
2010 12 12 0
2009 31 31 0
2008 24 24 0
2007 24 24 0
2006 21 21 0
2005 34 34 0
2004 25 25 0
2003 36 36 0
2002 34 34 0
2001 38 38 0
2000 26 26 0
1999 35 35 0
1998 51 51 0
1997 37 37 0
1996 58 58 0
1995 49 44 5
1994 56 49 7
1993 70 64 6
1992 82 72 10
1991 68 59 9
1990 80 73 7
1989 73 73 0
1988 80 75 5
1987 68 68 0
1986 79 68 11
1985 81 76 5
1984 80 73 7
1983 89 79 10
1982 107 107 0
1981 104 91 13
1980 106 95 11
1979 117 105 12
1978 129 114 15
1977 118 104 14
1976 119 105 14
1975 129 114 15
1974 141 120 21
1973 155 125 30
1972 188 161 27
1971 232 198 34
1970 233 194 39
1969 270 233 37
1968 248 209 39
1967 280 233 47
1966 296 258 38
1965 340 294 46
1964 373 297 76
1963 341 290 51
1962 385 327 58
1961 450 376 74
1960 525 426 99
1959 612 484 128
1958 634 523 111
1957 637 514 123
1956 555 453 102
1955 503 393 110
1954 450 336 114
1953 453 335 118
1952 446 312 134
1951 414 259 155
1950 445 291 154
1949 486 302 184
1948 547 335 212
1947 608 375 233
1946 535 336 199
1945 474 276 198
1944 467 285 182
1943 523 273 250
1942 573 330 243
1941 422 235 187
1940 402 216 186
1939 369 169 200
1938 345 170 175
1937 316 167 149
1936 274 134 140
1935 256 116 140
1934 230 104 126
1933 198 80 118
1932 226 74 152
1931 205 66 139
1930 193 63 130
1929 149 42 107
1928 157 42 115
1927 116 31 85
1926 141 40 101
1925 91 20 71
1924 100 20 80
1923 76 8 68
1922 85 21 64
1921 84 18 66
1920 53 10 43
1919 59 17 42
1918 52 22 30
1917 38 13 25
1916 33 9 24
1915 24 10 14
1914 20 6 14
1913 8 0 8
1912 9 0 9
1911 5 5 0
1910 7 0 7
1905 5 5 0
1904 7 7 0

Top States for Gerry (2009)

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
TX 6
100%