Germell
A name of unknown etymology, potentially related to the French surname Germelle.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Germell. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Germell today is around 47 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Germell births was 1975 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Germell. 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 Germell. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1975
5 babies that year
Average age
47
years old
1975 SSA rank
#5,771
Tracked since 1975
Popularity
Germell: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Germell 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 Germell during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Germell
The given name Germell has its linguistic origins tracing back to the ancient Germanic peoples of Europe. It is believed to be derived from the Proto-Germanic root "germ-", meaning "seed" or "sprout", and the suffix "-ell", which signifies a diminutive or endearing form. This combination suggests a connotation of "little seed" or "little sprout", perhaps symbolizing growth, renewal, or the beginnings of life.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Germell dates back to the 8th century, where it appears in the Codex Sangallensis, a collection of Old High German literature and poetry. During this period, the name was predominantly found among the Alemannic and Bavarian tribes of present-day southern Germany and Switzerland.
In the medieval era, the name Germell gained some prominence, particularly in religious contexts. One notable figure bearing this name was Germell of Besançon, a Benedictine monk and scholar who lived in the late 11th century. He is credited with authoring several theological treatises and contributing to the intellectual discourse of his time.
The Renaissance period saw the name Germell being used across various parts of Europe, albeit in limited instances. One example is Germell Weyckher, a German painter and engraver who lived from 1520 to 1580. His works, though not widely renowned, offer a glimpse into the artistic styles and techniques of the 16th century.
In the 17th century, a figure of historical significance was Germell van Cokelberghe, a Flemish military engineer and architect born in 1610. He played a crucial role in the design and fortification of several cities in the Spanish Netherlands, leaving a lasting impact on the region's defensive structures.
Another notable individual bearing the name Germell was Germell von Münchhausen, a German writer and satirist who lived from 1720 to 1797. He is best known for his literary work "The Marvellous Travels and Campaigns of Baron Münchhausen", a collection of humorous and fantastical tales that have become a cultural touchstone.
While the name Germell is relatively uncommon in modern times, it carries a rich historical tapestry, weaving together elements of linguistic heritage, religious significance, artistic expression, and literary legacy across various regions and time periods.
People
Germell + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Germell 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
Germell: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Germell?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Germell 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 Germell a common name?
We classify Germell 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 Germell most popular?
The single biggest year for Germell was 1975, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Germell is about 47 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 Germell in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Germell a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Germell 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 Germell still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Germell 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 Germell 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 are called Germell?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.