Geter
A diminutive form of Gerard, derived from the Germanic elements "gair" (spear) and "hard" (brave, hardy).
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Geter. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Geter today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Geter births was 1915 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Geter. 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 Geter. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1915
5 babies that year
Average age
-
1915 SSA rank
#4,055
Tracked since 1915
Popularity
Geter: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Geter 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 Geter during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Geter
The given name Geter has its origins in the Germanic language family, emerging in the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old High German word "gitan," which translates to "to receive" or "to acquire." This root word likely evolved from the Proto-Germanic "getan," carrying a similar meaning.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Geter can be found in the Codex Traditiones Possessionesque Wizanburgenses, a medieval manuscript dating back to the 8th century. This document contains records of land transfers and property ownership in the region of Wissembourg, located in present-day France.
In the 11th century, a Benedictine monk named Geter von Prüfening gained recognition for his contributions to the Prüfening Abbey in Bavaria. His name appears in several manuscripts and chronicles from that period, solidifying the presence of the name in medieval Germany.
During the Renaissance, a notable figure named Geter Petri (1501-1573) emerged as a Swedish theologian and reformer. He played a significant role in the Swedish Reformation and was instrumental in translating the Bible into Swedish.
In the 17th century, a Dutch artist named Geter Gerritsz Crommert (1620-1688) gained fame for his landscape paintings and cityscapes depicting the Netherlands. His works are preserved in various museums, including the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Another prominent individual bearing the name Geter was Geter Tjallingii (1801-1881), a Dutch theologian and linguist. He was known for his extensive work on the Frisian language and contributed to the preservation of Frisian literature and cultural heritage.
While the name Geter has its roots in the Germanic language family and enjoyed some historical prominence, it has become relatively uncommon in modern times. However, its linguistic origins and historical references serve as a testament to the rich cultural tapestry woven by names and their meanings across various regions and periods.
People
Geter + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Geter 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
Geter: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Geter?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Geter 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 - US residents.
Is Geter a common name?
We classify Geter as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% 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 Geter most popular?
The single biggest year for Geter was 1915, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Geter is about 0 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 Geter in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Geter a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Geter 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 Geter still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Geter 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 Geter 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 Geter?
You can see how many people have the name Geter on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.