Jerline
A feminine name of French origin meaning "fair land".
Name Census estimates that about 370 living Americans carry the first name Jerline. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Jerline today is around 77 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jerline births was 1940 (41 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jerline. 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 Jerline is about 77 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Jerlines were born before 1959.
People living today
370
~ 1 in 926,363 Americans
Peak year
1940
41 babies that year
Average age
77
years old
1995 SSA rank
#14,378
Tracked since 1914
Popularity
Jerline: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Jerline from the 1910s through to the 1990s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1940s, with 340 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
Jerline 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 Jerline during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Jerlines live
The SSA's state-level files cover 9 states and territories. Texas, Mississippi, South Carolina recorded the most babies named Jerline, while Kentucky, Georgia, Arkansas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 31 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Jerline
The name Jerline is of English origin, derived from the combination of the Germanic elements "ger" meaning "spear" and "lind" meaning "tender" or "lime tree." It emerged during the Middle Ages, likely as a feminine form of the masculine name Gerlin.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jerline can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England, dating back to the 14th century. The entry from 1387 mentions a Jerline Wyche, possibly a reference to a local family or individual.
While not extensively documented in ancient texts or religious scriptures, the name Jerline was occasionally used in medieval Europe, particularly in England and parts of France. Its popularity may have been influenced by the symbolic association with strength and gentleness, represented by the spear and lime tree elements.
One notable historical figure bearing the name Jerline was Jerline de Montfort (c. 1315-1379), a noblewoman from the influential Montfort family in Normandy, France. She was known for her involvement in the Hundred Years' War and her support of the English cause against the French Crown.
In the 16th century, Jerline Weston (1510-1576) was a prominent figure in the English Reformation. As a Protestant reformer and scholar, she played a role in the translation and distribution of religious texts, including the Geneva Bible.
Another notable Jerline was Jerline Fairfax (1620-1688), an English aristocrat and landowner. She inherited vast estates in Virginia, which contributed to the establishment of the Fairfax family's influence in the American colonies.
During the 18th century, Jerline Austen (1745-1817) was the younger sister of the renowned English novelist Jane Austen. While not as famous as her sibling, Jerline was a writer herself and contributed to the literary circles of her time.
In the 19th century, Jerline Nightingale (1820-1910) was a British social reformer and philanthropist, known for her work in improving healthcare and nursing practices. She was the younger sister of the celebrated nurse Florence Nightingale.
The name Jerline, while not as widespread as some other English names, has maintained a presence throughout history, often associated with individuals from noble or influential families. Its unique blend of Germanic elements and historical references have contributed to its enduring appeal.
People
Jerline + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jerline 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
Jerline: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jerline?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 370 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jerline 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 926,363 US residents.
Is Jerline a common name?
We classify Jerline as "Very Rare". It ranks above 81.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,138 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jerline most popular?
The single biggest year for Jerline was 1940, when 41 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jerline is about 77 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Jerline a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jerline 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.