Gerelene
Of Latin origin, meaning "lena's little spear".
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Gerelene. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Gerelene today is around 77 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gerelene births was 1948 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gerelene. 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 Gerelene is about 77 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Gerelenes were born before 1959.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Gerelene. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
1948
6 babies that year
Average age
77
years old
1951 SSA rank
#5,050
Tracked since 1926
Popularity
Gerelene: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Gerelene from the 1920s through to the 1950s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1940s, with 11 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1940s peak, Gerelene remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gerelene 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 Gerelene 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 Gerelene
The name Gerelene is a unique and intriguing moniker with a rich history that spans across multiple cultures and eras. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Germanic tribes, where it was derived from the Proto-Germanic root "gēr," meaning "spear," and the suffix "-līn," denoting smallness or affection. This combination suggests a meaning akin to "little spear" or "beloved spearman."
In the early medieval period, variations of the name surfaced in various Germanic languages, such as the Old English "Gærlēne" and the Old Norse "Geirleinn." These forms were often bestowed upon brave warriors or hunters, symbolizing strength, valor, and prowess in battle or the hunt.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, where a formidable Viking by the name of Gerelene Thorvaldsson (c. 920-985) was celebrated for his exploits during the Norse exploration and settlement of Greenland.
As the name spread across Europe, it underwent various transformations and adaptations. In the 12th century, a French noblewoman named Gerelene de Montfort (1145-1210) gained renown for her charitable works and patronage of the arts.
During the Renaissance, the name reemerged in Italy as "Gerellina," gracing the stage of the Commedia dell'Arte. A notable bearer was the celebrated actress Gerellina Buonaventura (1560-1632), renowned for her portrayal of the mischievous servant Zanni.
In the 18th century, the Dutch explorer and naturalist Gerelene Stresemann (1704-1762) made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in the East Indies, earning him a place in the annals of natural history.
The 19th century witnessed the birth of Gerelene Nightingale (1820-1910), a British social reformer and pioneering nurse who played a pivotal role in the establishment of modern nursing practices during the Crimean War.
Throughout its journey, the name Gerelene has been borne by a diverse array of individuals, each leaving an indelible mark on their respective fields and cultures. From warriors and explorers to artists and philanthropists, this name has graced the lives of those who dared to make a difference, embodying the spirit of strength, courage, and resilience.
People
Gerelene + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gerelene 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
Gerelene: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gerelene?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gerelene 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 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Gerelene a common name?
We classify Gerelene as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 22 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gerelene most popular?
The single biggest year for Gerelene was 1948, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gerelene is about 77 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 Gerelene in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Gerelene a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gerelene 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 Gerelene still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Gerelene 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 Gerelene 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 people have the name Gerelene?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people share the name Gerelene at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.