Gerrell
Masculine name of uncertain origin and meaning, possibly derived from Gerald.
Name Census estimates that about 429 living Americans carry the first name Gerrell. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Gerrell today is around 32 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gerrell births was 1989 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gerrell. 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
429
~ 1 in 798,961 Americans
Peak year
1989
18 babies that year
Average age
32
years old
2022 SSA rank
#12,989
Tracked since 1939
Popularity
Gerrell: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Gerrell from the 1930s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 130 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gerrell 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 Gerrell during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Gerrells live
Origin
Meaning and history of Gerrell
The given name Gerrell is of uncertain origin, with no definitive records of its linguistic roots or cultural background. It is a relatively uncommon name, and its history is largely obscured.
One theory suggests that Gerrell may be a variant or diminutive form of the Germanic name Gerald or Gerold, which means "ruler of the spear." However, the exact connection between Gerrell and these older names is unclear.
Another possibility is that Gerrell could be a modification or amalgamation of various name elements from different languages, such as the French "Ger-" prefix (meaning "spear" or "lance") and the Germanic "-rell" suffix (often associated with diminutive or affectionate forms).
Unfortunately, there are no definitive historical records or ancient texts that clearly document the origin or early usage of the name Gerrell. Its roots remain shrouded in mystery.
In terms of notable individuals bearing this name, the earliest recorded example appears to be Gerrell Ellison (born circa 1930), an American jazz trombonist and composer from Oklahoma. He performed with various jazz ensembles in the mid-20th century and recorded several albums.
Another individual of note is Gerrell Robinson (born 1987), an American football wide receiver who played for several teams in the National Football League (NFL) between 2010 and 2016.
In the literary realm, there is Gerrell Browne (born 1965), a Trinidadian writer and poet known for her works exploring themes of identity, culture, and diaspora.
The name Gerrell has also been used in the field of education, with Gerrell McIntyre (born 1976) serving as a distinguished professor and administrator at various universities in the United States.
Lastly, Gerrell Bullock (born 1982) is a former American professional basketball player who competed in several international leagues and championships during the early 2000s.
While these individuals represent a diverse range of professions and backgrounds, the name Gerrell remains relatively uncommon, and its precise origins and historical significance remain elusive.
People
Gerrell + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gerrell 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
Gerrell: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gerrell?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 429 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gerrell 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 798,961 US residents.
Is Gerrell a common name?
We classify Gerrell as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 446 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gerrell most popular?
The single biggest year for Gerrell was 1989, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gerrell is about 32 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Gerrell a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gerrell 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.