Geri
A feminine diminutive of Germanic origin meaning "spear-bearer" or "spearman".
Name Census estimates that about 6,099 living Americans carry the first name Geri. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Geri today is around 60 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Geri births was 1958 (368 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Geri. 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.
People living today
6.1K
~ 1 in 56,198 Americans
Peak year
1958
368 babies that year
Average age
60
years old
1947 SSA rank
#3,939
Tracked since 1918
Gender
Gender distribution for Geri
Out of the 8,026 babies given the name Geri since 1880, 99.9% were registered as female. The name sits firmly on the female side of the spectrum, with only a handful of male registrations across the entire dataset.
Geri as a male name
- Ranked #3,939 in 1947
- 5 male births in 1947
- Peak: 1947 (5 births)
Geri as a female name
- Ranked #12,934 in 2018
- 7 female births in 2018
- Peak: 1958 (368 births)
Popularity
Geri: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Geri from the 1910s through to the 2010s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 2,466 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Geri 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 Geri during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Geris live
The SSA's state-level files cover 37 states and territories. California, Illinois, New York recorded the most babies named Geri, while Tennessee, Nevada, North Dakota recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 133 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Geri
The name Geri is a Germanic name with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old German word "gēr," which means "spear." The name was commonly used in various Germanic cultures, including the Saxons, Franks, and Goths.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Geri can be found in the Old Norse Poetic Edda, a collection of ancient Norse poems and stories. In the poem "Grímnismál," the name Geri is mentioned as one of the names of Odin, the chief god in Norse mythology. This association with a powerful deity suggests that the name held significance and respect in ancient Germanic societies.
During the Middle Ages, the name Geri gained popularity among the nobility and warrior classes. It was often given to sons who were expected to grow into brave and skilled fighters. In the epic poem "Nibelungenlied," written in the 13th century, there is a character named Gernot, which is a variant of Geri. This literary reference further solidifies the name's historical presence in Germanic culture.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Geri was Geri the Old, a Norwegian chieftain who lived in the 9th century. He was known for his leadership and bravery during the Viking Age, and his name is mentioned in the Icelandic sagas.
Another notable figure was Geri of Aurillac, a French nobleman and saint who lived in the 9th century. He was renowned for his piety and charitable works, establishing several monasteries and hospitals in the region of Auvergne.
In the 11th century, Geri the Powerful was a prominent German nobleman and military leader who fought alongside Emperor Henry IV during the Investiture Controversy. His exploits and loyalty to the emperor were recorded in contemporary chronicles.
During the 12th century, Geri of Regensburg was a prominent German scholar and theologian. He wrote several influential works on theology and philosophy, contributing to the intellectual discourse of the time.
In the 15th century, Geri Müller was a German artist and woodcarver known for his intricate religious sculptures and altarpieces. His work can be found in numerous churches and museums across Germany, showcasing his skill and artistry.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Geri
People
Geri + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Geri 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
Geri: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Geri?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6,099 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Geri 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 56,198 US residents.
Is Geri a common name?
We classify Geri as "Rare". It ranks above 96.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 8,026 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Geri most popular?
The single biggest year for Geri was 1958, when 368 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Geri is about 60 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Geri a female name?
Yes, 99.9% of people registered as Geri 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.