Gerald
Boy name · #1204 in 2025 · Uniqueness 73/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Gerald against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Gerald in class?
Gerald scores 73 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. 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. In 2025 the states with the most Geralds were CA (17), NY (15), FL (13), TX (12), PA (11). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 73/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.