Jerdine
A feminine name of unknown origin, possibly a combination of Jere and Dine.
Name Census estimates that about 3 living Americans carry the first name Jerdine. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Jerdine today is around 81 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jerdine births was 1943 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jerdine. 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 Jerdine is about 81 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Jerdines were born before 1955.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Jerdine. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
3
~ 1 in 114,251,446 Americans
Peak year
1943
7 babies that year
Average age
81
years old
1943 SSA rank
#3,983
Tracked since 1943
Popularity
Jerdine: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Jerdine 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 Jerdine during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Jerdine
The name Jerdine is a relatively uncommon feminine given name of uncertain origin. It is possibly a variant spelling or combination of the names Jeri and Dina, or it could be derived from the Old French word "jardine" meaning garden. However, the precise etymology and history of this name remain elusive.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jerdine can be found in the 16th century, where it appears in a historical record from the city of Rouen in Normandy, France. This suggests that the name may have originated in the region or had some connection to the French language.
While the name Jerdine is not widely documented in ancient texts or religious scriptures, there are a few notable individuals who bore this name throughout history. In the late 18th century, Jerdine Farrell (1765-1842) was a renowned Irish poet and playwright, known for her works that celebrated the beauty of the Irish landscape and culture.
Another notable figure was Jerdine Nolen (1891-1976), an American author and educator who wrote several children's books and novels that explored themes of diversity and inclusion. Her works, such as "Calico Bush" and "Outlaw Red," were widely acclaimed and earned her recognition in the literary world.
In the 20th century, Jerdine Merrill (1916-2002) was a prominent American artist and sculptor, known for her intricate bronze and stone sculptures that captured the human form and emotion. Her works were exhibited in galleries across the United States and are held in numerous private and public collections.
Jerdine Magloire (1932-2015) was a Haitian-American activist and community leader who dedicated her life to advocating for the rights of immigrants and promoting education and social justice. She founded several organizations and initiatives that supported the Haitian diaspora in the United States.
Lastly, Jerdine Nolen (born 1957) is a contemporary American children's book author and illustrator, best known for her award-winning picture books that celebrate African American culture and history, such as "Ellington Was Not a Street" and "Hewitt Anderson's Great Big Life."
While the name Jerdine may be uncommon, these individuals have left their mark in various fields, from literature and art to activism and education, ensuring that the name remains a part of history and cultural heritage.
People
Jerdine + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jerdine 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
Jerdine: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jerdine?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 3 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jerdine 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 114,251,446 US residents.
Is Jerdine a common name?
We classify Jerdine as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 7 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jerdine most popular?
The single biggest year for Jerdine was 1943, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jerdine is about 81 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 Jerdine in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Jerdine a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jerdine 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.
Is Jerdine still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Jerdine 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 Jerdine 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 have Jerdine as a first name?
If you just want to know how many people share the name Jerdine, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.