Geraldine
Geraldine is a girl's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Ruler with a spear.
Origin and history
Geraldine is a feminine name of Germanic origin, derived from elements meaning spear ruler. It became popular in English-speaking countries after being invented or popularized by the 16th-century poet Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. Though heavily used in the early to mid-20th century, it is now less common in the United States.
Popularity in the United States
211,349 babies in the United States have been named Geraldine since 1880. It ranks #188 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1449.
States where it is most popular
- NY (10.6 %)
- PA (8.8 %)
- IL (6.5 %)
- MI (5.3 %)
- CA (4.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 192 |
| 1890-1900 | 758 |
| 1900-1910 | 2,589 |
| 1910-1920 | 18,990 |
| 1920-1930 | 48,044 |
| 1930-1940 | 50,042 |
| 1940-1950 | 47,933 |
| 1950-1960 | 24,222 |
| 1960-1970 | 9,789 |
| 1970-1980 | 2,232 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,561 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,198 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,417 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,719 |
| 2020-2029 | 663 |
Famous people named Geraldine
- Geraldine Ferraro: Politician, Lawyer
- Geraldine Chaplin: Actress
- Geraldine Page: Actress
Nicknames
Gerry, Geri, Dina, Gerri
Fun facts
- The name was coined in the 16th century by Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, in his sonnet to Elizabeth Fitzgerald, referring to her as The Fair Geraldine.
- Geraldine was a top-50 name for girls in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s.