Geradette
A feminine form of Gerard, a name of Germanic origin meaning "brave spear".
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Geradette. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Geradette today is around 71 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Geradette births was 1953 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Geradette. 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 Geradette is about 71 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Geradettes were born before 1965.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Geradette. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
1953
6 babies that year
Average age
71
years old
1955 SSA rank
#6,160
Tracked since 1951
Popularity
Geradette: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Geradette 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 Geradette during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0 | 16 | 16 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Geradette
The name Geradette is believed to have its origins in the French language, derived from the Germanic root "gera," meaning "spear." It is a feminine form of the masculine name Gerard, which gained popularity during the Middle Ages.
The earliest recorded use of the name Geradette can be traced back to the 12th century in France, where it was a variation of the more common Gerardine. This name was often bestowed upon girls born into noble families, as it carried connotations of strength and bravery associated with the symbolism of the spear.
One of the earliest notable figures bearing the name Geradette was Geradette de Provins, a 13th-century French noblewoman and patron of the arts. She was renowned for her support of troubadours and her contributions to the cultural renaissance of the time.
In the 16th century, Geradette de Bourbon, a French princess and daughter of Duke Charles III of Bourbon, played a significant role in the religious and political conflicts of the era. She was a staunch supporter of the Catholic Church and actively worked to suppress Protestantism in her territories.
During the 17th century, Geradette de Laval, a French aristocrat and writer, gained recognition for her literary works, including a collection of poetry and a memoir detailing her experiences during the Fronde, a series of civil wars in France.
In the realm of saints, Geradette Thouret, born in 1767, was a French nun and founder of the Sisters of Notre Dame of Bon Secours. She dedicated her life to caring for the sick and poor, and her order expanded throughout Europe. She was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1989.
Another notable figure was Geradette Gosselin, a 19th-century French-Canadian educator and advocate for women's education. She established several schools and fought for the inclusion of women in higher education, paving the way for future generations of women scholars.
While the name Geradette has seen varying levels of popularity throughout history, it remains a testament to the rich cultural heritage and linguistic roots of the French language, carrying with it connotations of strength, bravery, and nobility.
People
Geradette + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Geradette 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
Geradette: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Geradette?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Geradette 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 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Geradette a common name?
We classify Geradette as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 16 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Geradette most popular?
The single biggest year for Geradette was 1953, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Geradette is about 71 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 Geradette in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Geradette a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Geradette 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 Geradette still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Geradette 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 Geradette 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 Geradette?
You can see how many Americans are named Geradette on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.