Find out how popular the first name Jeraldine has been for the last 49 years (from 1974 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Jeraldine by gender

Based on the last 49 years of data, Jeraldine is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 6 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Jeraldine.

The history of the first name Jeraldine

The name Jeraldine is an English feminine form derived from the masculine name Gerald, which in turn has its origins in the Germanic elements "ger" meaning "spear" and "wald" meaning "ruler" or "commander". This combination of words suggests a meaning along the lines of "ruler with a spear" or "spear-ruler".

While the name Gerald has been recorded in various spellings since the 8th century, the feminine variant Jeraldine is a relatively modern construction, likely emerging in the 19th century as an English adaptation of the French form Géraldine. It is believed that the name Jeraldine gained popularity in the English-speaking world due to the influence of the character Geraldine from the 1688 play "The Rover" by Aphra Behn.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jeraldine can be found in the 1853 novel "Jeraldine: A Souvenir of the Late War" by Mary Hosmer. This work, set during the Mexican-American War, features the titular character Jeraldine and may have contributed to the initial dissemination of the name in the United States.

Notable historical figures who bore the name Jeraldine include Jeraldine Blunden (1887-1977), an American dancer and actress known for her work in vaudeville and early silent films. Another prominent Jeraldine was Jeraldine Saunders (1923-2020), an American author and screenwriter who co-wrote the Oscar-winning film "The Grifters" in 1990.

In the realm of politics, Jeraldine Ferraro (1935-2011) made history as the first female vice-presidential candidate representing a major American political party when she was selected as Walter Mondale's running mate in the 1984 presidential election.

Jeraldine Desaulniers (1951-2018) was a Canadian author and educator who wrote numerous children's books and was recognized for her efforts in promoting literacy and encouraging young people to read.

Finally, Jeraldine Saunders (1923-2020), an American author and screenwriter, co-wrote the Oscar-winning film "The Grifters" in 1990, showcasing the versatility and enduring nature of the name Jeraldine across various creative fields.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Jeraldine was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Jeraldine, please contact us.

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