Find out how popular the first name Jerry has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Jerry by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Jerry is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Jerry being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 283 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Jerry.

The history of the first name Jerry

The name Jerry is an English diminutive form of the male given name Gerald. Gerald itself derives from the Germanic elements ger, meaning "spear", and waltan, meaning "to rule". The name can be traced back to the Old English period, around the 5th to 11th centuries CE.

While the name Gerald has its origins in Germanic languages, the shortened form Jerry became popular in English-speaking countries. One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Jerry dates back to the late 16th century in England.

In terms of historical references, the name Jerry is not commonly found in ancient texts or religious scriptures. However, there have been several notable individuals throughout history who bore this name.

One of the earliest recorded individuals was Sir Jerry Greenville (1537-1591), an English sailor and privateer who served during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another early example is the English Puritan minister Jeremiah Burroughs (c. 1599-1646), who was a prominent figure during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, Jerry Prendergast (c. 1700-1782) was an Irish politician and landowner who served as a member of the Irish House of Commons. During the same period, the English caricaturist and satirical artist James Gillray (1757-1815) was often referred to by his nickname, Jerry.

Moving into the 19th century, the American author and humorist Jeremiah "Jerry" Clemens (1833-1908) was a cousin of Mark Twain and served as a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War.

In the 20th century, Jerry Siegel (1914-1996) was the co-creator of the iconic comic book superhero Superman, along with artist Joe Shuster. Jerry Garcia (1942-1995) was the lead guitarist and vocalist of the legendary rock band The Grateful Dead, known for his influential guitar work and distinctive vocal style.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals named Jerry throughout history, showcasing the name's longevity and its presence across various fields and cultures.

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 Jerry was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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