Geraldine Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Geraldine is an Old German name meaning 'spear ruler'. It evolved from the Old German 'Gerwald' and has historical forms such as Gerald. The name gained prominence in the 19th century through literature. It carries traits of elegance and tradition, and it does not have a biblical relevance.
The name Geraldine is most popular in Maine, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Silent Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Geraldine has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Geraldine' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2680th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1453rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3019th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 7360th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 11418th out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 81st out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 49th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 148th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 515th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1122nd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1413th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1656th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Geraldine' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Geraldine"
Pronunciation
/ˌdʒɛr.əlˈdiːn/
Origin
Old German
Etymology
Geraldine is derived from the Old German name 'Gerwald', which is composed of the elements 'ger', meaning 'spear', and 'wald', meaning 'rule' or 'power'.
Meaning
spear ruler
Language Evolution
Gerwald, Gerald, Geraldine
Historical Usage
The name Geraldine gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly after it was used in literature and poetry, including works by poets like Lord Alfred Tennyson.
Variants & Derivatives
Gerald, Gerry, Geralda
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Geraldine is perceived as a classic and somewhat vintage name, often associated with elegance and tradition.
Famous People
Geraldine Page, Geraldine Ferraro, Geraldine McEwan
Explore More Geraldine Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Geraldine"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Geraldine"
"Geraldine" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2680th of 7545 | 151 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1453rd of 6773 | 409 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 3019th of 7552 | 143 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 7360th of 10718 | 23 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 11418th of 16616 | 22 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 81st of 9107 | 58,988 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 49th of 9204 | 90,676 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 148th of 12526 | 48,082 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 515th of 19264 | 6,057 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1122nd of 27321 | 2,391 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1413th of 35406 | 2,404 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1656th of 30306 | 1,580 |
Regional Popularity of "Geraldine" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
71.21% 1108th/1556 |
95.07% 2237th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
63.94% 4039th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Geraldine" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
3.88% 55th/1416 |
5.51% 76th/1379 |
4.23% 100th/2366 |
5.43% 62nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
3.17% 49th/1546 |
3.15% 49th/1556 |
2.46% 58th/2353 |
3.36% 52nd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
8.08% 180th/2227 |
5.14% 125th/2430 |
4.87% 139th/2853 |
6.70% 186th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
20.53% 603rd/2937 |
10.91% 380th/3483 |
16.97% 597th/3518 |
12.02% 486th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
49.63% 1829th/3685 |
15.73% 704th/4475 |
28.76% 1494th/5194 |
13.84% 874th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
47.45% 2174th/4582 |
26.30% 1358th/5164 |
19.38% 1417th/7313 |
13.69% 1022nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
60.99% 2430th/3984 |
44.39% 1992nd/4487 |
23.10% 1576th/6822 |
18.01% 1130th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Geraldine"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Geraldine" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.