Gerard
Boy name · #1711 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Gerard? In official American birth records, Gerard has been tracked continuously since 1886, giving it 139 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 95 baby boys were named Gerard, placing it at #1711 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1086, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 18,947 boys born in 2025 was named Gerard.
The 139-year story
Gerard first appears in the Social Security records in 1886, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1956, when 1,617 boys were named Gerard — good for #180 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 Gerard per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Gerard against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Gerard in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Gerard is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Gerard will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Gerard is most common
State-level data for Gerard is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Gerard
Statistically, parents drawn to Gerard tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Ward, Gerald, Gordon, Guy, and Mickey.
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Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Gerard | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 95 | #1708 |
| 2024 | 115 | #1530 |
| 2023 | 130 | #1408 |
| 2022 | 128 | #1425 |
| 2021 | 121 | #1479 |
| 2020 | 119 | #1451 |
| 2019 | 116 | #1479 |
| 2018 | 149 | #1238 |
| 2017 | 161 | #1164 |
| 2016 | 160 | #1183 |
| 2015 | 180 | #1086 |
| 2014 | 202 | #1012 |
| 2013 | 183 | #1047 |
| 2012 | 171 | #1090 |
| 2011 | 172 | #1082 |
| 2010 | 140 | #1250 |
| 2009 | 130 | #1331 |
| 2008 | 126 | #1355 |
| 2007 | 100 | #1562 |
| 2006 | 117 | #1374 |
| 2005 | 113 | #1334 |
| 2004 | 124 | #1225 |
| 2003 | 134 | #1131 |
| 2002 | 156 | #998 |
| 2001 | 146 | #1017 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Gerard?
In official American birth records, the name Gerard first appeared in 1886 (over 139 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Gerard a popular boy name?
Gerard ranked #1711 among boys in 2025 with 95 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1086.
When was the name Gerard most popular?
Gerard peaked in 1956, when 1,617 American boys received the name (ranked #180 that year). Since 1956 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Gerard?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 18,947 newborn American boys was named Gerard. 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.