Gerald
Boy name · #1204 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Gerald? In official American birth records, Gerald has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Gerald ranks #1204 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 168 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #764, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 10,714 boys born in 2025 was named Gerald.
The 145-year story
Gerald first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 11 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1942, when 11,484 boys were named Gerald — good for #22 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Gerald per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Gerald against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Gerald in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Gerald is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Gerald will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Gerald is most common
Geography matters for names, and Gerald is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Gerald is most common in MI (0.2 per 1,000), PA (0.2 per 1,000), NY (0.2 per 1,000), FL (0.1 per 1,000), CA (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.1 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Gerald is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Gerald
Statistically, parents drawn to Gerald tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Ronald, Donald, Jerald, Reginald, and Harold.
RonaldDonaldJeraldReginaldHaroldGerardArnoldGordon
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Gerald | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 168 | #1204 |
| 2024 | 178 | #1170 |
| 2023 | 213 | #1024 |
| 2022 | 206 | #1066 |
| 2021 | 217 | #1006 |
| 2020 | 230 | #954 |
| 2019 | 245 | #890 |
| 2018 | 242 | #894 |
| 2017 | 271 | #825 |
| 2016 | 284 | #809 |
| 2015 | 312 | #764 |
| 2014 | 281 | #810 |
| 2013 | 329 | #715 |
| 2012 | 346 | #683 |
| 2011 | 373 | #628 |
| 2010 | 348 | #679 |
| 2009 | 396 | #630 |
| 2008 | 415 | #604 |
| 2007 | 472 | #544 |
| 2006 | 465 | #545 |
| 2005 | 472 | #520 |
| 2004 | 552 | #463 |
| 2003 | 529 | #474 |
| 2002 | 556 | #443 |
| 2001 | 609 | #411 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Gerald?
In official American birth records, the name Gerald first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 11 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Gerald a popular boy name?
Gerald ranked #1204 among boys in 2025 with 168 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #764.
When was the name Gerald most popular?
Gerald peaked in 1942, when 11,484 American boys received the name (ranked #22 that year). Since 1942 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Gerald?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 10,714 newborn American boys was named Gerald. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.