Jerre
An anglicized masculine name of uncertain Germanic origin, possibly meaning "wanderer".
Name Census estimates that about 663 living Americans carry the first name Jerre. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 56.3% of registrations being male. The average person named Jerre today is around 74 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jerre births was 1942 (52 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jerre. 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
- • Jerre sits in rare territory as a truly gender-neutral name, given to boys and girls in near-equal numbers.
- • The typical person named Jerre is about 74 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Jerres were born before 1962.
People living today
663
~ 1 in 516,975 Americans
Peak year
1942
52 babies that year
Average age
74
years old
1984 SSA rank
#5,508
Tracked since 1914
Gender
Gender distribution for Jerre
Jerre is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 1,412 total registrations, 795 (56.3%) were male and 617 (43.7%) were female.
Jerre as a male name
- Ranked #6,784 in 1984
- 5 male births in 1984
- Peak: 1942 (28 births)
Jerre as a female name
- Ranked #5,508 in 1965
- 7 female births in 1965
- Peak: 1952 (35 births)
Popularity
Jerre: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Jerre from the 1910s through to the 1980s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1940s, with 432 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
Jerre 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 Jerre during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Jerres live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. Texas, Alabama, Missouri recorded the most babies named Jerre, while Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 23 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Jerre
The name Jerre has its origins in the ancient Germanic languages, with roots that can be traced back to the 5th century AD. It is derived from the Old Germanic word "ger," which translates to "spear" or "lance." This connection to weaponry suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who were skilled warriors or hunters.
In the early Middle Ages, the name Jerre gained popularity across various regions of Europe, particularly in areas inhabited by Germanic tribes such as the Franks, Saxons, and Alemanni. It was often spelled with variations like "Ger," "Gerre," or "Gerry."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jerre can be found in the Frankish Annals, a historical chronicle from the 9th century AD. The text mentions a man named "Gerric" who served as a military commander under the Frankish king Charlemagne.
Throughout the medieval period, the name Jerre was borne by several notable figures. One of the most famous was Jerre de Hainaut (1265-1337), a French nobleman and military leader who played a significant role in the Hundred Years' War between England and France.
In the 16th century, Jerre Cornelisz (1558-1638) was a Dutch painter and engraver known for his intricate still-life works. He was a member of the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke and is considered one of the pioneers of the Dutch Golden Age of painting.
Another prominent individual with the name Jerre was Jerre Herdringen (1622-1683), a German composer and musician who served as the Kapellmeister (chapel master) to the Prince-Elector of Saxony in Dresden.
Moving forward to the 18th century, Jerre Gilliam (1738-1818) was an American pioneer and frontiersman who played a significant role in the settlement of Kentucky. He was a close associate of Daniel Boone and participated in the defense of Boonesborough during the American Revolutionary War.
As the name Jerre evolved over time, it underwent various spelling changes and adaptations in different regions and cultures. While it may not be as common today as some other names, its rich historical roots and connections to warrior traditions and artistic achievements make it a name with a fascinating legacy.
People
Jerre + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jerre 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
Jerre: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jerre?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 663 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jerre 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 516,975 US residents.
Is Jerre a common name?
We classify Jerre as "Very Rare". It ranks above 87.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,412 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jerre most popular?
The single biggest year for Jerre was 1942, when 52 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jerre is about 74 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Jerre a male name?
Yes, 56.3% of people registered as Jerre in the SSA data are male. 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.