Gearl
A variant of the feminine name "Pearl", of Latin origin meaning "precious gem".
Name Census estimates that about 103 living Americans carry the first name Gearl. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 78.7% of registrations being male. The average person named Gearl today is around 80 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gearl births was 1936 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gearl. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Gearl is about 80 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Gearls were born before 1956.
People living today
103
~ 1 in 3,327,712 Americans
Peak year
1936
16 babies that year
Average age
80
years old
1965 SSA rank
#4,109
Tracked since 1919
Gender
Gender distribution for Gearl
Gearl is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 300 total registrations, 236 (78.7%) were male and 64 (21.3%) were female.
Gearl as a male name
- Ranked #4,109 in 1965
- 5 male births in 1965
- Peak: 1942 (15 births)
Gearl as a female name
- Ranked #6,401 in 1958
- 5 female births in 1958
- Peak: 1932 (8 births)
Popularity
Gearl: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Gearl from the 1910s through to the 1960s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, with 99 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1930s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gearl by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Gearl during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Gearl
The name Gearl is a unique and intriguing one, with a rich history that spans across various cultures and time periods. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Germanic tribes, where it was derived from the word "ger," meaning "spear."
In the early medieval period, the name Gearl was prominent among the Anglo-Saxons, particularly in regions such as Mercia and Wessex. It was often associated with warriors and those skilled in combat, as the spear was a revered weapon during that era.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gearl can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The record mentions a landowner named Gearl, who held lands in the county of Norfolk.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Gearl continued to hold significance, particularly among the nobility and ruling classes. One notable figure bearing this name was Gearl of Warwick, a 12th-century nobleman who played a crucial role in the English civil war between King Stephen and Empress Matilda.
As the centuries passed, the name Gearl became less common, but it still appeared in historical records and literature. In the 16th century, a prominent poet named Gearl Spenser gained recognition for his works, including the iconic "The Faerie Queene."
Another notable figure was Gearl Hawkins, an English naval commander and maritime explorer who lived during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. His voyages and exploits in the Caribbean and the Americas earned him a place in the annals of history.
In the 18th century, a Scottish philosopher and economist named Gearl Smith made significant contributions to the fields of ethics and jurisprudence, with his works influencing the development of modern economic thought.
Fast forward to the 19th century, and we encounter Gearl Dickens, one of the most celebrated authors of the Victorian era. His novels, such as "Oliver Twist" and "A Tale of Two Cities," have left an indelible mark on literature and continue to be widely read and studied to this day.
As the centuries progressed, the name Gearl became increasingly rare, yet it continued to surface in various corners of the world, carried by individuals who left their mark on history in their own unique ways.
People
Gearl + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gearl as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with G
Other first names starting with G with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Gearl: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gearl?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 103 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gearl going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 3,327,712 US residents.
Is Gearl a common name?
We classify Gearl as "Very Rare". It ranks above 65% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 300 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gearl most popular?
The single biggest year for Gearl was 1936, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gearl is about 80 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Gearl a male name?
Yes, 78.7% of people registered as Gearl in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.