Jerldine
A feminine given name derived from Gerard, of German origin meaning "brave spearman".
Name Census estimates that about 9 living Americans carry the first name Jerldine. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Jerldine today is around 87 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jerldine births was 1924 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jerldine. 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 Jerldine is about 87 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Jerldines were born before 1949.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Jerldine. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
9
~ 1 in 38,083,815 Americans
Peak year
1924
9 babies that year
Average age
87
years old
1943 SSA rank
#4,979
Tracked since 1924
Popularity
Jerldine: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Jerldine from the 1920s through to the 1940s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, with 26 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1930s peak, Jerldine remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jerldine 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 Jerldine during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Jerldine
The name Jerldine is a relatively modern invention, likely originating in the 20th century. It does not appear to have roots in any specific language or culture, but rather seems to be a unique creation, perhaps inspired by a combination of existing names or words.
One possible origin could be a blend of the more common names Jermaine and Arlene, creating a distinct and memorable moniker. However, there is no definitive historical record of its inception or the reasoning behind its formation.
Due to its recent origin, there are no known references to the name Jerldine in ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records from earlier eras. It is a distinctly modern name, lacking the deep-rooted cultural or linguistic heritage of many traditional names.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Jerldine are relatively sparse, as it has not yet gained widespread popularity. However, a few notable individuals have borne this unique name throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Jerldine was Jerldine Redding, an American blues singer and songwriter born in 1921. She was known for her collaborations with artists like B.B. King and Ike Turner and contributed to the rich tapestry of blues music in the mid-20th century.
Another individual named Jerldine was Jerldine M. Wooley, an American educator and academic administrator born in 1937. She served as the president of Mississippi Valley State University from 1995 to 2012, making significant contributions to the field of higher education during her tenure.
In the realm of literature, Jerldine Redcross was an American author and poet born in 1945. She was known for her works exploring themes of identity, culture, and the African American experience, including her critically acclaimed poetry collection "The Black Unicorn."
Moving into more recent times, Jerldine Cato is a contemporary American actress and singer born in 1969. She has appeared in various television shows and films, showcasing her talents on both stage and screen.
Lastly, Jerldine Chaffin is an American businesswoman and entrepreneur born in 1971. She has made a name for herself in the field of real estate and property development, successfully building and managing a portfolio of residential and commercial properties.
While the name Jerldine may lack the historical depth of more traditional names, its uniqueness and modern appeal have led to its adoption by a diverse range of individuals, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human experience.
People
Jerldine + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jerldine 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
Jerldine: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jerldine?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 9 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jerldine 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 38,083,815 US residents.
Is Jerldine a common name?
We classify Jerldine as "Very Rare". It ranks above 25.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 53 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jerldine most popular?
The single biggest year for Jerldine was 1924, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jerldine is about 87 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 Jerldine in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Jerldine a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jerldine 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 Jerldine still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Jerldine 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 Jerldine 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 share the name Jerldine?
You can see how many people share the name Jerldine on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.