Gerry
Gerry is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Ruler with a spear, or brave spear.
Origin and history
Gerry is a diminutive of names like Gerald or Gerard, originating from Germanic roots meaning rule of the spear or brave spear. Popularity peaked in the mid-20th century in the U.S. and it remains a familiar traditional name, though it is used less frequently today.
Popularity in the United States
14,468 babies in the United States have been named Gerry since 1880. It ranks #988 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1868.
States where it is most popular
- CA (12 %)
- TX (10.1 %)
- NY (7.2 %)
- MI (6 %)
- IL (5.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 12 |
| 1910-1920 | 82 |
| 1920-1930 | 252 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,143 |
| 1940-1950 | 2,963 |
| 1950-1960 | 3,900 |
| 1960-1970 | 2,943 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,340 |
| 1980-1990 | 805 |
| 1990-2000 | 542 |
| 2000-2010 | 293 |
| 2010-2019 | 134 |
| 2020-2029 | 59 |
Famous people named Gerry
- Gerry Gerry: Musician, Singer
- Gerry Adams: Politician, Author
- Gerry Cheevers: Athlete, Ice Hockey Player
Fun facts
- Gerry arose as a diminutive of Germanic names containing the element 'ger' meaning spear.
- While Jerry with a 'J' became more common, the 'G' spelling retains a direct visual link to Gerald and Gerard.