Gerrad
A masculine name of Irish origin meaning "spear wielder".
Name Census estimates that about 305 living Americans carry the first name Gerrad. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Gerrad today is around 42 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gerrad births was 1980 (25 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gerrad. 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
305
~ 1 in 1,123,785 Americans
Peak year
1980
25 babies that year
Average age
42
years old
2001 SSA rank
#11,151
Tracked since 1968
Popularity
Gerrad: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Gerrad from the 1960s through to the 2000s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 142 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gerrad 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 Gerrad during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Gerrads live
Origin
Meaning and history of Gerrad
Gerrad is a masculine given name with origins traced back to the Germanic languages. It is derived from the old Germanic elements "ger" meaning "spear" and "rad" meaning "counsel" or "advice." The name therefore symbolizes a connotation of a "spear advisor" or someone who provides wise counsel in battle.
The name emerged during the Middle Ages, primarily in regions where Germanic tribes settled, such as parts of modern-day Germany, the Netherlands, and England. Variations in spelling include Gerard, Gerrard, and Gerhart, reflecting the linguistic evolution across different regions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gerrad can be found in the 8th century, when a Benedictine monk named Gerrad von Toul lived in the region of Lorraine, which is now part of France. He is renowned for his contributions to religious texts and his role in establishing monasteries.
In the 11th century, Gerrad of Cambrai, a French scholar and theologian, gained recognition for his writings on canon law and his service as the Bishop of Cambrai. His works influenced the development of medieval ecclesiastical law.
During the 12th century, Gerrad of Cremona, an Italian translator and scholar, played a significant role in introducing Arabic scientific works to the Western world. His translations of works by prominent Islamic scholars, such as Avicenna and Ptolemy, contributed greatly to the advancement of knowledge in Europe.
In the 13th century, Gerrad Segarelli, an Italian religious leader, founded the Apostolic Brethren, a Christian religious movement that advocated for a life of poverty and simplicity. Although his movement was eventually suppressed, his teachings left a lasting impact on the region.
Another notable figure bearing the name Gerrad was Gerrad Winstanley, an English Protestant reformer who lived during the 17th century. He was a prominent figure in the Diggers movement, which advocated for the redistribution of land and the establishment of egalitarian communities.
These are just a few examples of historical figures who carried the name Gerrad, each leaving their mark in various fields such as religion, scholarship, and social reform.
People
Gerrad + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gerrad 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
Gerrad: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gerrad?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 305 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gerrad 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 1,123,785 US residents.
Is Gerrad a common name?
We classify Gerrad as "Very Rare". It ranks above 79.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 321 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gerrad most popular?
The single biggest year for Gerrad was 1980, when 25 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gerrad is about 42 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Gerrad a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gerrad 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.
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.