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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201979peak #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 1979

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #132 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 707 boysAKMaine: #105 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 650 boysMEVermont: #100 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 614 boysVTNew Hampshire: #131 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,138 boysNHWashington: #157 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 1,140 boysWAIdaho: fewer than 5 boys named Gerald, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Gerald, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: #121 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 690 boysNDMinnesota: #141 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 1,153 boysMNIllinois: #127 for boys · 107 births · 1 in 783 boysILWisconsin: #119 for boys · 37 births · 1 in 933 boysWIMichigan: #93 for boys · 124 births · 1 in 541 boysMINew York: #145 for boys · 116 births · 1 in 957 boysNYMassachusetts: #149 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 1,304 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Gerald, so not publishedRIOregon: #162 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 1,139 boysORNevada: #147 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 826 boysNVWyoming: #131 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 713 boysWYSouth Dakota: #109 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 591 boysSDIowa: #160 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 1,304 boysIAIndiana: #148 for boys · 35 births · 1 in 1,173 boysINOhio: #126 for boys · 92 births · 1 in 874 boysOHPennsylvania: #118 for boys · 88 births · 1 in 864 boysPANew Jersey: #126 for boys · 51 births · 1 in 832 boysNJConnecticut: #147 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 1,082 boysCTCalifornia: #177 for boys · 175 births · 1 in 1,027 boysCAUtah: #225 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 1,901 boysUTColorado: #168 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 1,209 boysCONebraska: #188 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 1,708 boysNEMissouri: #123 for boys · 44 births · 1 in 835 boysMOKentucky: #121 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 828 boysKYWest Virginia: #140 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 1,069 boysWVVirginia: #123 for boys · 45 births · 1 in 739 boysVAMaryland: #100 for boys · 40 births · 1 in 567 boysMDDelaware: #130 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 743 boysDEArizona: #221 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 1,395 boysAZNew Mexico: #96 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 427 boysNMKansas: #153 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 990 boysKSArkansas: #130 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 693 boysARTennessee: #166 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 1,173 boysTNNorth Carolina: #135 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 817 boysNCSouth Carolina: #201 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 1,239 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #119 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 564 boysDCOklahoma: #144 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 928 boysOKLouisiana: #80 for boys · 89 births · 1 in 392 boysLAMississippi: #120 for boys · 33 births · 1 in 573 boysMSAlabama: #204 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 1,350 boysALGeorgia: #143 for boys · 50 births · 1 in 786 boysGAHawaii: #80 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 379 boysHITexas: #182 for boys · 131 births · 1 in 941 boysTXFlorida: #121 for boys · 83 births · 1 in 660 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Hawaii#80 · 1 in 379
  2. Louisiana#80 · 1 in 392
  3. Michigan#93 · 1 in 541
  4. New Mexico#96 · 1 in 427
  5. Maryland#100 · 1 in 567

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Hawaii#80171 in 379
Louisiana#80891 in 392
Michigan#931241 in 541
New Mexico#96241 in 427
Maryland#100401 in 567
Vermont#10051 in 614
Maine#105111 in 650
South Dakota#10991 in 591
Pennsylvania#118881 in 864
District of Columbia#119141 in 564
Wisconsin#119371 in 933
Mississippi#120331 in 573
Florida#121831 in 660
Kentucky#121341 in 828
North Dakota#12181 in 690
Missouri#123441 in 835
Virginia#123451 in 739
New Jersey#126511 in 832
Ohio#126921 in 874
Illinois#1271071 in 783
Arkansas#130231 in 693
Delaware#13051 in 743
New Hampshire#13151 in 1,138
Wyoming#13151 in 713
Alaska#13251 in 707
North Carolina#135461 in 817
West Virginia#140131 in 1,069
Minnesota#141271 in 1,153
Georgia#143501 in 786
Oklahoma#144231 in 928
New York#1451161 in 957
Connecticut#147161 in 1,082
Nevada#14761 in 826
Indiana#148351 in 1,173
Massachusetts#149261 in 1,304
Kansas#153171 in 990
Washington#157261 in 1,140
Iowa#160171 in 1,304
Oregon#162171 in 1,139
Tennessee#166281 in 1,173
Colorado#168181 in 1,209
California#1771751 in 1,027
Texas#1821311 in 941
Nebraska#18871 in 1,708
South Carolina#201171 in 1,239
Alabama#204201 in 1,350
Arizona#221151 in 1,395
Utah#225101 in 1,901
Idaho———
Montana———
Rhode Island———

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 1979

girls
#3,541
22 births · 1 in 72,967 girls
boys
#143
1,863 births · 1 in 924 boys

Top girls' names in 1979

  1. #1Jennifer56,712
  2. #2Melissa34,050
  3. #3Amanda31,924
  4. #4Jessica27,780
  5. #5Amy21,609
  6. #6Sarah21,015
  7. #7Heather20,834
  8. #8Angela20,256
  9. #9Nicole19,510
  10. #10Michelle19,266
  11. #3,541Gerald22

Top boys' names in 1979

  1. #1Michael67,713
  2. #2Christopher50,659
  3. #3Jason50,369
  4. #4David42,053
  5. #5James39,351
  6. #6Matthew35,621
  7. #7John35,410
  8. #8Robert34,015
  9. #9Joshua31,120
  10. #10Brian28,659
  11. #143Gerald1,863
More about 1979

girls

1,605,268 girls got a published name in 1979; 1 in 72,967 of them was named Gerald, which outranked 70.4% of the 11,972 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gerald
  1. #3,442Trang23
  2. #3,442Valery23
  3. #3,442Vincent23
  4. #3,541Gerald22
  5. #3,541Alonda22
  6. #3,541Alondra22
  7. #3,541Alva22
  8. #3,668Alise21
  9. #3,668Allyssa21
  10. #3,668Alyshia21

Tied with 126 names at #3,541; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1978
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,593Breanne#2,125 → #532
  2. ↑ 1,527Loni#2,516 → #989
  3. ↑ 1,287Renata#2,012 → #725
  4. ↑ 985Ashanti#1,862 → #877
  5. ↑ 896Nicolette#1,581 → #685
Fallers
  1. ↓ 392Christel#762 → #1,154
  2. ↓ 312Kenisha#557 → #869
  3. ↓ 297Ariane#887 → #1,184
  4. ↓ 285Imelda#947 → #1,232
  5. ↓ 252Farrah#539 → #791

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

boys

1,721,536 boys got a published name in 1979; 1 in 924 of them was named Gerald, which outranked 98.0% of the 7,071 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.1% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gerald
  1. #140Manuel1,910
  2. #141Andre1,881
  3. #142Lance1,867
  4. #143Gerald1,863
  5. #144Arthur1,862
  6. #145Albert1,860
  7. #146Clinton1,855
Biggest movers since 1978
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,228Tyrel#2,134 → #906
  2. ↑ 471Jace#1,186 → #715
  3. ↑ 387Chaz#1,371 → #984
  4. ↑ 311Tyrell#1,051 → #740
  5. ↑ 308Frederic#1,203 → #895
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,230Dequan#927 → #2,157
  2. ↓ 641Rahsaan#869 → #1,510
  3. ↓ 446Chip#989 → #1,435
  4. ↓ 308Rashaun#996 → #1,304
  5. ↓ 307Kenya#749 → #1,056

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

See the top 100 for 1979 →