Gerin
Of Germanic origin, denoting a man with a spear.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Gerin. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Gerin today is around 37 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gerin births was 1988 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gerin. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Gerin. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1988
5 babies that year
Average age
37
years old
1988 SSA rank
#7,675
Tracked since 1988
Popularity
Gerin: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Gerin 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 Gerin during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Gerin
The given name Gerin has its origins in medieval Europe, with roots tracing back to the Germanic languages. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "gēr," which means "spear" or "javelin." This connection suggests that the name may have initially been bestowed upon individuals associated with warfare or military pursuits during that era.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Gerin can be found in the medieval French epic poem "The Song of Roland," which dates back to the 11th century. In this literary work, Gerin is mentioned as a prominent figure among Charlemagne's knights, further solidifying the name's association with valor and bravery.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Gerin gained popularity across various regions of Europe, particularly in areas influenced by Germanic cultures. Notable individuals bearing this name include Gerin de Montrevel, a 13th-century French nobleman and knight who participated in the Seventh Crusade (1248–1254).
In the realm of literature, Gerin was the name of a character in the Arthurian legends, appearing in various medieval texts and narratives. This further contributed to the name's association with chivalry and heroic deeds.
Moving into the Renaissance period, one of the most well-known bearers of the name was Gerin Tonstall (1475–1535), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Chancellor of the Diocese of London and played a significant role in the early years of the English Reformation.
Another notable figure was Gerin Gilliers (1554–1628), a French Jesuit priest and mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of algebra and authored several influential works on the subject.
During the 18th century, Gerin Trumbull (1722–1788) was a prominent American politician and jurist who served as the Governor of Connecticut and played a crucial role in the Revolutionary War era.
In the 19th century, Gerin Hancock (1834–1892) was a British artist and illustrator known for his vibrant depictions of rural life and landscapes.
As we move into the 20th century, Gerin Toyn (1904–1972) was a British actor and playwright who gained recognition for his performances on stage and in radio dramas.
People
Gerin + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gerin 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
Gerin: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gerin?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gerin 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Gerin a common name?
We classify Gerin as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gerin most popular?
The single biggest year for Gerin was 1988, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gerin is about 37 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 Gerin in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Gerin a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gerin in the SSA data are male. 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 Gerin still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Gerin 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 Gerin 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 Gerin?
If you just want to know how many people share the name Gerin, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.