Gearline
A feminine name of unknown origin, possibly meaning "protected warrior".
Name Census estimates that about 85 living Americans carry the first name Gearline. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Gearline today is around 79 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gearline births was 1939 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gearline. 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 Gearline is about 79 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Gearlines were born before 1957.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Gearline. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
85
~ 1 in 4,032,404 Americans
Peak year
1939
16 babies that year
Average age
79
years old
1957 SSA rank
#5,066
Tracked since 1924
Popularity
Gearline: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Gearline from the 1920s through to the 1950s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, with 91 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1930s peak, Gearline remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gearline 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 Gearline 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 Gearline
The given name Gearline is an uncommon feminine name of uncertain origin. It does not appear to be derived from any specific language or culture, and its roots are obscure. The name may have been created as a unique combination of existing words or as a variation of a more common name.
There are no known historical references or appearances of Gearline in ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records. This suggests that the name is relatively modern and has not been widely used throughout history.
The earliest recorded examples of the name Gearline are scarce, and it is challenging to pinpoint the first instances of its use. However, a few notable individuals have borne this name over the years.
One of the earliest known individuals named Gearline was Gearline Williamson (born in 1909), an American actress and singer who appeared in several films and stage productions in the 1930s and 1940s. She was known for her roles in movies such as "Charlie Chan at the Opera" (1936) and "The Invisible Man's Revenge" (1944).
Another individual named Gearline was Gearline D. Marley (1923-2013), an American educator and civil rights activist from Mississippi. She was actively involved in the fight for desegregation and equal rights for African Americans in the 1950s and 1960s.
In the sporting world, Gearline Cullen (born in 1943) was a Canadian sprinter who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. She participated in the 100-meter dash and the 4x100-meter relay events.
Gearline Griffith (born in 1951) was an Australian artist and painter known for her vibrant and expressive works. She was part of the contemporary Aboriginal art movement and her paintings often depicted scenes from indigenous Australian culture and life.
Lastly, Gearline Grimshaw (1948-2016) was a British singer and songwriter who rose to prominence in the 1970s. She was known for her unique vocal style and her collaborations with various rock and folk musicians of the era.
While Gearline is not a common name, these individuals have left their mark in various fields throughout history, showcasing the diversity and uniqueness associated with this given name.
People
Gearline + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gearline 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
Gearline: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gearline?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 85 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gearline 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 4,032,404 US residents.
Is Gearline a common name?
We classify Gearline as "Very Rare". It ranks above 62.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 260 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gearline most popular?
The single biggest year for Gearline was 1939, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gearline is about 79 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Gearline in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Gearline a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gearline 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.
Is Gearline still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Gearline in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Gearline can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Gearline?
Find out how many people share the name Gearline on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.