Jerald Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: JER-ald //ˈdʒɛr.əld//
Origin: English; German
Meaning: rules by the spear (German); strong and brave (English)
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Jerald is derived from the Old German name Gerald, which is composed of the elements 'ger' meaning 'spear' and 'wald' meaning 'rule' or 'power.' This name evolved through various linguistic stages, transitioning from Old High German to Middle High German as Geralt, before being adapted into Latin as Geraldus. The name made its way into English through Norman influence after the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, where it was introduced as Gerald.
Over time, Jerald emerged as a variant form, particularly in English-speaking contexts. Historically, the name Gerald has been borne by notable figures, including several saints and nobles throughout the medieval period.
One prominent example is Saint Gerald of Aurillac, a 9th-century French saint who is venerated in various Christian traditions. His life and deeds contributed to the name's religious significance, particularly in the context of Christian hagiography.
Additionally, the name appears in various historical texts and documents, reflecting its use among the nobility and clergy in medieval England and beyond. Culturally, the name Jerald and its variants have been associated with strength and leadership due to their etymological roots.
The imagery of a spear as a symbol of power resonates with the martial connotations of the name. This connection to nobility and valor has helped maintain its presence in various forms throughout history.
The diminutive form Gerald has also been widely used, further embedding the name within cultural traditions. Overall, Jerald reflects a rich tapestry of linguistic evolution and historical significance, rooted in themes of power and nobility.
Famous people named Jerald
In this section, you will find notable people named Jerald. 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 Jerald who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Jerald 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.
Jerald McCoy is a former professional American football player best known for his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, being a six-time Pro Bowl selection, and his defensive prowess.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Jerald, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Jerald was first seen in the United States in 1909.
Jerald has ranked as high as #460 nationally, which occurred in 1942, and has been most popular in California, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, and New York.
In the past 5 years the name Jerald has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Jerald 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 Jerald was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Jerald (2019)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| OH | 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 Jerald.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 28 |
| 2023 | 24 |
| 2022 | 24 |
| 2021 | 28 |
| 2020 | 35 |
| 2019 | 33 |
| 2018 | 37 |
| 2017 | 39 |
| 2016 | 35 |
| 2015 | 34 |
| 2014 | 38 |
| 2013 | 36 |
| 2012 | 51 |
| 2011 | 38 |
| 2010 | 44 |
| 2009 | 55 |
| 2008 | 59 |
| 2007 | 71 |
| 2006 | 51 |
| 2005 | 61 |
| 2004 | 56 |
| 2003 | 79 |
| 2002 | 63 |
| 2001 | 99 |
| 2000 | 74 |
| 1999 | 77 |
| 1998 | 90 |
| 1997 | 90 |
| 1996 | 107 |
| 1995 | 97 |
| 1994 | 126 |
| 1993 | 118 |
| 1992 | 148 |
| 1991 | 147 |
| 1990 | 158 |
| 1989 | 164 |
| 1988 | 189 |
| 1987 | 129 |
| 1986 | 142 |
| 1985 | 145 |
| 1984 | 123 |
| 1983 | 168 |
| 1982 | 180 |
| 1981 | 202 |
| 1980 | 193 |
| 1979 | 195 |
| 1978 | 180 |
| 1977 | 219 |
| 1976 | 233 |
| 1975 | 208 |
| 1974 | 238 |
| 1973 | 279 |
| 1972 | 294 |
| 1971 | 321 |
| 1970 | 431 |
| 1969 | 415 |
| 1968 | 341 |
| 1967 | 374 |
| 1966 | 425 |
| 1965 | 402 |
| 1964 | 440 |
| 1963 | 422 |
| 1962 | 462 |
| 1961 | 446 |
| 1960 | 404 |
| 1959 | 412 |
| 1958 | 482 |
| 1957 | 498 |
| 1956 | 501 |
| 1955 | 535 |
| 1954 | 503 |
| 1953 | 541 |
| 1952 | 555 |
| 1951 | 536 |
| 1950 | 509 |
| 1949 | 584 |
| 1948 | 548 |
| 1947 | 609 |
| 1946 | 564 |
| 1945 | 527 |
| 1944 | 547 |
| 1943 | 623 |
| 1942 | 647 |
| 1941 | 559 |
| 1940 | 502 |
| 1939 | 455 |
| 1938 | 420 |
| 1937 | 411 |
| 1936 | 394 |
| 1935 | 294 |
| 1934 | 288 |
| 1933 | 263 |
| 1932 | 256 |
| 1931 | 246 |
| 1930 | 191 |
| 1929 | 179 |
| 1928 | 144 |
| 1927 | 123 |
| 1926 | 124 |
| 1925 | 109 |
| 1924 | 84 |
| 1923 | 78 |
| 1922 | 113 |
| 1921 | 78 |
| 1920 | 59 |
| 1919 | 58 |
| 1918 | 59 |
| 1917 | 61 |
| 1916 | 54 |
| 1915 | 34 |
| 1914 | 30 |
| 1913 | 22 |
| 1912 | 19 |
| 1911 | 10 |
| 1910 | 9 |
| 1909 | 5 |