Gerard Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Gerard originates from Germanic roots, meaning 'brave spear'. It evolved through various forms, including Gerhard and Gerardus, reflecting its historical usage since the medieval period. The name embodies traits of strength and bravery, with no biblical relevance. Today, it is perceived as a classic and dignified name, with notable bearers in various fields.
The name Gerard is most popular in New Hampshire, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers 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, Gerard has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Gerard' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 263rd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 219th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 204th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 362nd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 561st out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1116th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1283rd out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6965th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 7328th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 7387th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 12822nd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 21402nd out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Gerard' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Gerard"
Pronunciation
/ˈdʒɛr.əd/
Origin
Germanic
Etymology
The name Gerard is derived from the Germanic elements 'ger' meaning 'spear' and 'hard' meaning 'brave' or 'strong'.
Meaning
Brave spear
Language Evolution
Gerhard, Gerardus, Gerard
Historical Usage
Gerard gained popularity in medieval Europe, particularly among the Normans and was introduced to England after the Norman Conquest in the 11th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Gerhard, Gerrard, Gerry
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Gerard is often associated with strength and bravery. It is considered a classic name that carries a sense of dignity.
Famous People
Gerard Butler, Gerard Depardieu, Gerard Way
Explore More Gerard Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Gerard"
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 "Gerard"
"Gerard" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 263rd of 7545 | 7,223 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 219th of 6773 | 10,694 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 204th of 7552 | 24,019 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 362nd of 10718 | 7,769 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 561st of 16616 | 4,804 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1116th of 24088 | 2,362 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1283rd of 23106 | 1,764 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 6965th of 9107 | 17 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 7328th of 9204 | 15 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 7387th of 12526 | 43 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 12822nd of 19264 | 23 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 21402nd of 27321 | 14 |
Regional Popularity of "Gerard" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
26.41% 374th/1416 |
7.03% 97th/1379 |
32.63% 772nd/2366 |
59.37% 678th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
21.93% 339th/1546 |
5.40% 84th/1556 |
26.09% 614th/2353 |
32.58% 504th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
10.06% 224th/2227 |
3.58% 87th/2430 |
14.44% 412th/2853 |
13.23% 367th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
16.04% 471st/2937 |
4.94% 172nd/3483 |
14.53% 511th/3518 |
14.14% 572nd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
21.38% 788th/3685 |
6.44% 288th/4475 |
12.23% 635th/5194 |
12.32% 778th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
40.40% 1851st/4582 |
11.12% 574th/5164 |
16.60% 1214th/7313 |
18.21% 1359th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
49.10% 1956th/3984 |
18.19% 816th/4487 |
19.28% 1315th/6822 |
22.90% 1437th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Gerard" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Gerard"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Gerard" 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.