Origin, Meaning, And History of Gerard
Gerard is a masculine name used in English, Dutch, Catalan, and Polish cultures. Historians outline it as a derivative of the German elements ger and hart, implying ‘spear’ and ‘hard, form, brave, hardy,’ respectively.
Several saints from Italy, Germany, Hungary, and Belgium have borne the name Gerard, which has popularized the name. Eventually, it traveled to Britain because of the Norman conquest.
The powerful two-syllable name has different pronunciations globally, depending on regional dialects. For instance, it is phonetically spelled ji-RAHRD in American English, while it is JEHR-əd in British English, GHEH-rahrt in Dutch, zhə-RART in Catalan, and GEH-rart in Polish cultures.
The heroic name Gerard has been adopted by various cultures and languages across the globe. For instance, Gerrard in English, Gerhard in Dutch, Danish, German, Norwegian, and Swedish, Gerrit in Dutch and Frisian, Gerardo in Italian and Spanish, Jorrit in Frisian, and Jerrard in English are some of the unique variants. If masculinity of Gerard intrigues you and you want to consider it for your little adventurous and strong girl, Gerarda and Gerry are some of the popular ones that may come in handy. If you choose Gerard as a name for your little fiery one, some popular pet names include Gerry, Ged, Rard, and Gee.
Gerard is a popular name among screenwriters in the fictional realm for naming powerful characters. One such character is Brigadier Gerard, seen in the novel Uncle Bernac by Arthur Conan Doyle. The readers appreciated his personality widely, which resulted in the author publishing short stories while solely focusing on his character.
Additionally, a werewolf hunter and antagonist in MTV’s cult television show Teen Wolf bore the name Gerard Argent. Marcel Gerard is another popular audience favorite character in the TV series The Originals. Marcel is a vampire and ruler of the New Orleans supernatural community. If you are a fan of military history and video games, StarCraft: Brood War has one of the Terran characters named Gerard DuGalle.
Gerard
Boy
Christianity
German
8
Two
1 word, 6 letters, 2 vowels, 4 consonants
Medium length and easy to pronounce
How To Pronounce Gerard?
The way you pronounce a name can make all the difference.
Listen to the sound of the name Gerard in German.
Famous People With The Name Gerard
- Gerard Montgomery BlueAmerican actor, known for his role in the silent film Orphans of the Storm
- Jerry Maren (born Gerard Marenghi)American actor, known for his role in the film The Wizard of Oz
- Gerard James ButlerScottish actor, known for his role in the film The Phantom of the Opera
- Scott Brady (born Gerard Kenneth Tierney)American actor, known for his role in the TV series Playhouse 90
- Gerard Kitchen O’NeillAmerican space activist and physicist founded the Space Studies Institute
Gerard On The Popularity Chart
Gerard is a unique name for boys that have been on parents’ minds since the 1980s. Glance through the graph to learn more.
Popularity Over Time
Gerard has gone from 366 babies per million in 1982 to 119 babies per million in 2021, indicating a consistent decrease in popularity.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Even though the name’s fictionally popular, Gerard has consistently ranked below 12,000 in the US since the 1980s.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Gerard
If Gerard’s rich and quintessential sound appeals to you, check out some similar-sounding names below.
Popular Sibling Names For Gerard
If you are looking for some matching sibling names that resonate with Gerard, check our suggestions here.
Boy Sibling Names For Gerard
Find matching brother names for Gerard and create a wonderful team of siblings.
ChriragCurrer Garrard Gaurhari Gerar Gerardus Gerhard Gerhardt Gerhart Gerrard Girl Sibling Names For Gerard
Looking for some suitable sister names for Gerard? Check out our collection of beautiful and unique names.
CaraCaree Carleigh Carly Caroline Carolyne Carra Carrie Carry Chiara Other Popular Names Beginning With G
Looking for more baby names starting with the letter G to resonate with your family’s naming tradition or to rhyme with the sibling names? Find a range of alternative names starting with this letter.
Names With Similar Meaning As Gerard
Here are some alternative names with similar meanings for you to consider if Gerard’s meaning of bravery appeals to you.
Infographic: Know The Name Gerard‘s Personality As Per Numerology
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Get high-quality PDF version by clicking below.
Download Infographic
How To Communicate The Name Gerard In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
gerard
In Sign Language
gerard
In Braille Alphabet
gerard
In Morse Code
gerard
Name Numerology For Gerard
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Gerard?
The name Gerard means ‘brave spearman.’
2. What is the origin of the name Gerard?
Gerard has a German origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Gerard?
Gerard is pronounced as ‘ge-rard.’
4. What is a nickname for Gerard?
Nicknames such as Gerry, Rad, and Rado may be trendy and unique shortened endearing terms of affection for someone named Gerard.
5. What is the Italian version of Gerard?
Gerard has a few Italian variants, including Gerardo and Gherardo, which carry a similar meaning and origin.
6. How common is the name Gerard?
According to the US Social Security Administration data, Gerard has consistently featured among the top 1000 baby boys’ names since 1900, thus making it a common and popular name. Gerard was most famous in 1954 when it ranked 177 (1).
7. What are some middle names that go well with Gerard?
Gerard is a unique-sounding name. You may pair it with other rhyming names to make a phonetically pleasing combination. For instance, the German names Burkhard and Eberhard rhyme with Gerard and mean ‘brave’ and ‘brave boar,’ respectively. You may also consider similar two-syllable names such as Felix, meaning ‘lucky.’
References:
- Popularity of name Gerard;
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
Look Up For Many More Names
Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.
