Gearlene
Anglicized variant of the Germanic feminine name Gerlind meaning "circle spear".
Name Census estimates that about 25 living Americans carry the first name Gearlene. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Gearlene today is around 82 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gearlene births was 1934 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gearlene. 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 Gearlene is about 82 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Gearlenes were born before 1954.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Gearlene. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
25
~ 1 in 13,710,174 Americans
Peak year
1934
10 babies that year
Average age
82
years old
1955 SSA rank
#5,421
Tracked since 1933
Popularity
Gearlene: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Gearlene from the 1930s through to the 1950s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, with 44 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
Gearlene 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 Gearlene 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 Gearlene
The name Gearlene has its origins in the English language, likely emerging in the late 19th or early 20th century. It appears to be a variant or combination of the names Gearline and Arlene. The first part, "Gear," may have been derived from the Old English word "gear," meaning "year" or "season," while the second part, "lene," is a common suffix in English names, possibly originating from the Latin word "lenis," meaning "gentle" or "mild."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gearlene can be found in the 1920 United States Census, where a few individuals were listed with this name. However, it is important to note that census records from that era may not be entirely accurate or comprehensive.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Gearlene. One of the earliest was Gearlene Sartor (born in 1926), an American actress and singer who appeared in films and television shows in the 1940s and 1950s.
Another prominent figure was Gearlene Dandridge (1923-2004), an American civil rights activist and educator who worked tirelessly to promote equal opportunities for African Americans in education and employment. She was a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and served as the organization's Youth Council advisor for several years.
In the field of literature, Gearlene L. Battle (born in 1934) was an acclaimed African American writer and educator. She authored several books, including "Legacy: The Poetic Voices of African American Women" and "The World Is Our Home: A Memoir," which explored themes of identity, heritage, and social justice.
Gearlene Becker (born in 1938) was a notable American artist and sculptor known for her abstract and minimalist works. Her sculptures, often created from wood and metal, have been exhibited in various galleries and museums across the United States.
Lastly, Gearlene Woodard (born in 1944) is an American actress and director who has had a successful career in film, television, and theater. She has received critical acclaim for her performances in movies such as "Crooklyn," "Jungle Fever," and "Lean on Me," and has also directed several stage productions.
While the name Gearlene may not be as common as some other names, it has a rich history and has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, from the arts to civil rights activism.
People
Gearlene + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gearlene 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
Gearlene: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gearlene?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 25 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gearlene 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 13,710,174 US residents.
Is Gearlene a common name?
We classify Gearlene as "Very Rare". It ranks above 43.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 78 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gearlene most popular?
The single biggest year for Gearlene was 1934, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gearlene is about 82 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Gearlene a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gearlene in the SSA data are female. 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.