Girard
Girard is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Brave spear or hardy spearman.
Origin and history
Girard is a masculine given name of Germanic origin, derived from elements meaning spear and brave or hardy. It entered English through Old French following the Norman Conquest, though it functions more commonly as a surname today. In the United States, it enjoyed moderate use in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but is rarely given as a first name modernly.
Popularity in the United States
1,717 babies in the United States have been named Girard since 1880. It ranks #3072 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- PA (60.7 %)
- NY (17.5 %)
- MA (11.2 %)
- NJ (4.9 %)
- DC (1.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 11 |
| 1910-1920 | 129 |
| 1920-1930 | 264 |
| 1930-1940 | 211 |
| 1940-1950 | 245 |
| 1950-1960 | 307 |
| 1960-1970 | 220 |
| 1970-1980 | 118 |
| 1980-1990 | 112 |
| 1990-2000 | 83 |
| 2000-2010 | 17 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Famous people named Girard
- Girard des Argues: Mathematician, Engineer
Nicknames
Gerry, Jerry
Fun facts
- The name was introduced to Britain by the Normans after 1066 as a variant of Gerard.
- While used historically as a given name, Girard is much more frequently encountered as a surname in the United States today.