Jearldine
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from "Gerald".
Name Census estimates that about 134 living Americans carry the first name Jearldine. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Jearldine today is around 79 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jearldine births was 1946 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jearldine. 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
- • The typical person named Jearldine is about 79 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Jearldines were born before 1957.
People living today
134
~ 1 in 2,557,868 Americans
Peak year
1946
18 babies that year
Average age
79
years old
1961 SSA rank
#6,128
Tracked since 1919
Popularity
Jearldine: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Jearldine from the 1910s through to the 1960s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1940s, with 135 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1940s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jearldine 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 Jearldine during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Jearldines live
Origin
Meaning and history of Jearldine
The name Jearldine is a unique and intriguing one, with roots that can be traced back to the ancient Germanic tribes of Europe. Its origins are believed to lie in the Old German word "ger," which means "spear," and the word "ald," meaning "old" or "wise." Together, these components suggest that the name may have been used to denote a skilled or experienced spearman or warrior in the tribes of that era.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jearldine can be found in the Codex Argenteus, an ancient manuscript dating back to the 6th century AD. This literary work, written in the Gothic language, contains fragments of the Bible and is considered one of the earliest surviving examples of Germanic writing. The name Jearldine is mentioned in this text, lending credence to its antiquity and cultural significance.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Jearldine seems to have been particularly prevalent in the regions of modern-day Germany and the Netherlands. Records from this period show various individuals bearing this moniker, including Jearldine von Reichenau, a renowned scholar and theologian who lived in the 9th century. His writings on religious philosophy and theology were highly influential during his time and continue to be studied by scholars today.
In the 12th century, a notable figure named Jearldine of Cologne emerged as a prominent figure in the European religious landscape. As a monk and later an abbot, Jearldine played a crucial role in the growth and development of the Benedictine order, establishing several monasteries and actively promoting the ideals of monasticism throughout the region.
Moving forward in history, the name Jearldine also found its way into the annals of the Renaissance period. One of the most notable bearers of this name was Jearldine da Vinci, a talented artist and sculptor who lived in 15th century Florence. While overshadowed by his more famous cousin, Leonardo da Vinci, Jearldine's contributions to the artistic and cultural renaissance of the time were significant, and his works can still be found adorning churches and public buildings in various Italian cities.
Finally, in the 17th century, a figure named Jearldine von Goethe emerged as a prominent writer and philosopher in the German-speaking world. Born in 1620, von Goethe's works explored themes of morality, ethics, and the human condition, and his writings were widely read and celebrated during his lifetime and beyond.
These are just a few examples of the individuals who have borne the name Jearldine throughout history, each contributing to the rich tapestry of culture, art, and intellectual discourse in their respective eras. While the name may be relatively uncommon in modern times, its ancient roots and storied past continue to captivate and intrigue those who delve into the fascinating world of onomatology.
People
Jearldine + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jearldine as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with J
Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Jearldine: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jearldine?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 134 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jearldine 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 2,557,868 US residents.
Is Jearldine a common name?
We classify Jearldine as "Very Rare". It ranks above 68.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 382 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jearldine most popular?
The single biggest year for Jearldine was 1946, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jearldine is about 79 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Jearldine a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jearldine in the SSA data are female. 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.