Gerald

Last seen for girls in 1993 at #8,052 · #1,204 for boys in 2025, 168 births
Given to boys 99.5% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1939 · 10,057 births
Debut · boys
11 births
In top 100 · boys
63 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
448,966
since 1880

Gerald over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201961peak #19, 1939boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025—#1,204168
2024—#1,170178
2023—#1,024213
2022—#1,066206
2021—#1,006217
2020—#954230
2019—#890245
2018—#894242
2017—#825271
2016—#809284
2015—#764312
2014—#810281
2013—#715329
2012—#683346
2011—#628373
2010—#679348
2009—#630396
2008—#604415
2007—#544472
2006—#545465
2005—#520472
2004—#463552
2003—#474529
2002—#443556
2001—#411609
2000—#382680
1999—#379686
1998—#376671
1997—#336773
1996—#322822
1995—#298889
1994—#284954
1993#8,05210#2561,116
1992#9,4918#2451,174
1991#13,1475#2351,261
1990—#2121,451
1989#8,0379#2011,469
1988#7,6919#1941,403
1987#6,78810#1901,441
1986#6,61210#1831,455
1985#5,07714#1811,446
1984#5,22213#1761,444
1983#4,28617#1681,549
1982#3,64722#1581,717
1981#4,53216#1541,764
1980#4,32717#1481,819
1979#3,54122#1431,863
1978#3,77719#1371,889
1977#4,42515#1312,046
1976#3,54019#1202,139
1975#3,95016#1082,398
1974#3,31320#1082,417
1973#2,50629#1022,592
1972#3,89415#1022,816
1971#2,34033#833,588
1970#1,95243#674,399
1969#1,95541#654,384
1968#2,24629#624,475
1967#1,88139#594,873
1966#2,14730#604,863
1965#1,85438#645,252
1964#2,10932#605,869
1963#2,06133#606,156
1962#2,07332#656,232
1961#1,72044#626,630
1960#1,88736#626,571
1959#1,72041#616,636
1958#1,90833#586,865
1957#1,86934#517,595
1956#1,87133#497,991
1955#1,87732#488,072
1954#1,64838#448,552
1953#1,67135#428,619
1952#1,74632#399,031
1951#1,74031#369,539
1950#1,45240#349,726
1949#1,80728#339,808
1948#1,52037#309,842
1947#1,35746#2810,750
1946#1,53233#2710,033
1945#1,33236#258,857
1944#1,29338#2410,023
1943#1,07755#2311,367
1942#1,32537#2211,484
1941#1,13343#2010,942
1940#1,09743#2110,236
1939#1,02248#1910,057
1938#1,20037#199,972
1937#98151#209,425
1936#1,13539#199,018
1935#99548#218,458
1934#98149#227,816
1933#1,06243#227,422
1932#1,07044#247,347
1931#93155#266,823
1930#1,18140#306,483
1929#1,04249#335,965
1928#1,21040#415,487
1927#1,02356#385,511
1926#1,07948#415,123
1925#1,25239#454,507
1924#1,92621#494,151
1923#1,67225#543,696
1922#1,78523#583,541
1921#1,76524#603,382
1920#1,88921#643,157
1919#2,06317#702,689
1918#1,64524#722,712
1917#2,69311#692,486
1916#2,49812#762,260
1915#3,1348#782,085
1914#2,8767#811,468
1913#2,8276#841,142
1912#2,9795#86929
1911—#88462
1910#2,3985#105289
1909—#95301
1908—#97270
1907—#102239
1906—#112191
1905—#113189
1904—#106201
1903—#107182
1902—#127151
1901—#124133
1900—#140157
1899—#143108
1898—#165100
1897—#16693
1896—#16895
1895—#19376
1894—#19775
1893—#22955
1892—#22162
1891—#23945
1890—#25644
1889—#23348
1888—#33030
1887—#35222
1886—#32128
1885—#36423
1884—#41619
1883—#49713
1882—#46915
1881—#46014
1880—#57111
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Gerald was already there! It came in at #571, and was given to 11 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1880–1883, when fewer than 16 boys a year got the name.

Where Gerald is popular in 1961

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #50 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 195 boysAKMaine: #58 for boys · 42 births · 1 in 260 boysMEVermont: #84 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 436 boysVTNew Hampshire: #78 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 439 boysNHWashington: #86 for boys · 83 births · 1 in 371 boysWAIdaho: #89 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 344 boysIDMontana: #71 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 275 boysMTNorth Dakota: #50 for boys · 36 births · 1 in 202 boysNDMinnesota: #61 for boys · 154 births · 1 in 268 boysMNIllinois: #67 for boys · 357 births · 1 in 319 boysILWisconsin: #52 for boys · 215 births · 1 in 220 boysWIMichigan: #45 for boys · 491 births · 1 in 190 boysMINew York: #64 for boys · 473 births · 1 in 380 boysNYMassachusetts: #59 for boys · 155 births · 1 in 370 boysMARhode Island: #58 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 375 boysRIOregon: #75 for boys · 60 births · 1 in 293 boysORNevada: #59 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 216 boysNVWyoming: #74 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 270 boysWYSouth Dakota: #99 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 485 boysSDIowa: #80 for boys · 82 births · 1 in 369 boysIAIndiana: #74 for boys · 155 births · 1 in 350 boysINOhio: #59 for boys · 378 births · 1 in 295 boysOHPennsylvania: #47 for boys · 463 births · 1 in 255 boysPANew Jersey: #55 for boys · 188 births · 1 in 336 boysNJConnecticut: #53 for boys · 90 births · 1 in 295 boysCTCalifornia: #73 for boys · 525 births · 1 in 360 boysCAUtah: #138 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 640 boysUTColorado: #51 for boys · 105 births · 1 in 209 boysCONebraska: #50 for boys · 78 births · 1 in 207 boysNEMissouri: #74 for boys · 143 births · 1 in 338 boysMOKentucky: #65 for boys · 109 births · 1 in 316 boysKYWest Virginia: #86 for boys · 43 births · 1 in 438 boysWVVirginia: #73 for boys · 127 births · 1 in 341 boysVAMaryland: #76 for boys · 85 births · 1 in 386 boysMDDelaware: #58 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 290 boysDEArizona: #93 for boys · 43 births · 1 in 394 boysAZNew Mexico: #87 for boys · 38 births · 1 in 350 boysNMKansas: #71 for boys · 73 births · 1 in 307 boysKSArkansas: #78 for boys · 59 births · 1 in 332 boysARTennessee: #85 for boys · 98 births · 1 in 402 boysTNNorth Carolina: #74 for boys · 159 births · 1 in 332 boysNCSouth Carolina: #49 for boys · 134 births · 1 in 212 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #85 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 436 boysDCOklahoma: #68 for boys · 89 births · 1 in 264 boysOKLouisiana: #46 for boys · 205 births · 1 in 201 boysLAMississippi: #86 for boys · 67 births · 1 in 403 boysMSAlabama: #75 for boys · 120 births · 1 in 312 boysALGeorgia: #78 for boys · 151 births · 1 in 317 boysGAHawaii: #88 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 340 boysHITexas: #88 for boys · 320 births · 1 in 374 boysTXFlorida: #68 for boys · 188 births · 1 in 292 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Michigan#45 · 1 in 190
  2. Louisiana#46 · 1 in 201
  3. Pennsylvania#47 · 1 in 255
  4. South Carolina#49 · 1 in 212
  5. Alaska#50 · 1 in 195

Best ever in a state: #7 in Minnesota, 1932.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Michigan#454911 in 190
Louisiana#462051 in 201
Pennsylvania#474631 in 255
South Carolina#491341 in 212
Alaska#50161 in 195
Nebraska#50781 in 207
North Dakota#50361 in 202
Colorado#511051 in 209
Wisconsin#522151 in 220
Connecticut#53901 in 295
New Jersey#551881 in 336
Delaware#58181 in 290
Maine#58421 in 260
Rhode Island#58241 in 375
Massachusetts#591551 in 370
Nevada#59151 in 216
Ohio#593781 in 295
Minnesota#611541 in 268
New York#644731 in 380
Kentucky#651091 in 316
Illinois#673571 in 319
Florida#681881 in 292
Oklahoma#68891 in 264
Kansas#71731 in 307
Montana#71281 in 275
California#735251 in 360
Virginia#731271 in 341
Indiana#741551 in 350
Missouri#741431 in 338
North Carolina#741591 in 332
Wyoming#74131 in 270
Alabama#751201 in 312
Oregon#75601 in 293
Maryland#76851 in 386
Arkansas#78591 in 332
Georgia#781511 in 317
New Hampshire#78141 in 439
Iowa#80821 in 369
Vermont#8491 in 436
District of Columbia#85341 in 436
Tennessee#85981 in 402
Mississippi#86671 in 403
Washington#86831 in 371
West Virginia#86431 in 438
New Mexico#87381 in 350
Hawaii#88221 in 340
Texas#883201 in 374
Idaho#89211 in 344
Arizona#93431 in 394
South Dakota#99161 in 485
Utah#138191 in 640

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Gerald
Momentum · boys
Falling
  • 34 spots since 2024 (#1,170 → #1,204)
  • 250 spots since 2020 (#954 → #1,204)
  • 440 spots since 2015 (#764 → #1,204)
  • Biggest jump: 111 spots in 1881 (#571 → #460)
  • Biggest drop: 95 spots in 2014 (#715 → #810)
Rise & fade · boys
59 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1939 at #19 (10,057 births)
  • Births halved by 1966, 27 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 63 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 63 yrs · run 1911–1971
  • Top 1,000: 141 yrs · run 1880–2020
Share of babies · boys
1 in 110
  • Highest: 1 in 110 boys born in 1939 were named Gerald (0.91%)
  • Latest: 1 in 10,167 boys born in 2025 (0.01%)
Era · boys
The 1940s
  • 23.0% of all boys named Gerald (103,342) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s223#233 (1889)#401
1890s753#143 (1899)#198
1900s2,014#95 (1909)#112
1910s16,522#69 (1917)#81
1920s44,520#33 (1929)#48
1930s82,821#19 (1939)#22
1940s103,342#20 (1941)#25
1950s82,626#34 (1950)#46
1960s55,305#59 (1967)#62
1970s26,147#67 (1970)#110
1980s15,507#148 (1980)#175
1990s9,797#212 (1990)#294
2000s5,146#382 (2000)#502
2010s3,031#628 (2011)#770
2020s1,212#954 (2020)#1,071

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Gerald in 1961

girls
#1,720
44 births · 1 in 45,875 girls
boys
#62
6,630 births · 1 in 320 boys

Top girls' names in 1961

  1. #1Mary47,682
  2. #2Lisa42,720
  3. #3Susan37,532
  4. #4Linda35,597
  5. #5Karen34,707
  6. #6Patricia28,889
  7. #7Donna28,679
  8. #8Cynthia24,393
  9. #9Sandra24,153
  10. #10Deborah24,107
  11. #1,720Gerald44

Top boys' names in 1961

  1. #1Michael86,974
  2. #2David84,810
  3. #3John79,983
  4. #4James75,969
  5. #5Robert72,977
  6. #6Mark57,796
  7. #7William48,045
  8. #8Richard41,142
  9. #9Thomas37,565
  10. #10Steven32,275
  11. #62Gerald6,630
More about 1961

girls

2,018,495 girls got a published name in 1961; 1 in 45,875 of them was named Gerald, which outranked 77.1% of the 7,527 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 16.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gerald
  1. #1,697Thomasina45
  2. #1,697Valeri45
  3. #1,697Willette45
  4. #1,720Gerald44
  5. #1,720Charlie44
  6. #1,720Chiquita44
  7. #1,720Corey44
  8. #1,742Adelina43
  9. #1,742Adelita43
  10. #1,742Agatha43

Tied with 21 names at #1,720; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1960
Risers
  1. ↑ 997Corinna#1,811 → #814
  2. ↑ 789Sabra#1,637 → #848
  3. ↑ 745Velvet#1,286 → #541
  4. ↑ 601Johnna#1,043 → #442
  5. ↑ 600Damita#1,597 → #997
Fallers
  1. ↓ 317Sheena#980 → #1,297
  2. ↓ 253Lita#909 → #1,162
  3. ↓ 241Jannette#970 → #1,211
  4. ↓ 229Francisca#939 → #1,168
  5. ↓ 214Andra#822 → #1,036

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

2,124,195 boys got a published name in 1961; 1 in 320 of them was named Gerald, which outranked 98.7% of the 4,657 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 29.1% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gerald
  1. #59Matthew7,081
  2. #60Joe7,056
  3. #61Wayne6,762
  4. #62Gerald6,630
  5. #63Randall6,587
  6. #64Glenn6,271
  7. #65Tim6,245
Biggest movers since 1960
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,171Parrish#4,038 → #867
  2. ↑ 589Brook#1,252 → #663
  3. ↑ 467Osvaldo#1,434 → #967
  4. ↑ 426Shayne#1,152 → #726
  5. ↑ 367Pernell#1,295 → #928
Fallers
  1. ↓ 425Wayde#672 → #1,097
  2. ↓ 380Yancy#923 → #1,303
  3. ↓ 301Jonas#905 → #1,206
  4. ↓ 264Tobin#833 → #1,097
  5. ↓ 253Keenan#748 → #1,001

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1961 →