Gerald is a distinctive choice, ranked #1859 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Gerald in their class.
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UK Rank 2024
#1859
US Rank #955
About the Name Gerald
Gerald has seen a notable decline in recent years, dropping 311 places in five years. It was most popular in 1996 at #680 â parents choosing it today are making a deliberately counter-trend decision. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Gerald is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school â standing out on every register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #955, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Gerald
Unlikely. With around 13 UK babies named Gerald per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Gerald in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Gerald has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 311 places in the last five years. Its peak was #680 in 1996. Choosing it now means he is likely to be among the last of his generation with this name.
Gerald is more popular in the US (#955) than in the UK (#1859). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Gerald include: Gerald Brady â Gerald L.; Gerald Casale â Gerald Vincent Casale ( kÉ-SAW-lee) is an American musician.; Gerald Ratner â Gerald Irving Ratner is a British businessman..
Gerald does not appear in the US top 1,000 baby names, making it a distinctively British choice â your child is unlikely to encounter American Geralds in the wild.
13
UK babies named Gerald (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 311 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Gerald
Likely around 1 other Gerald in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2020)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Gerald
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Gerald Larner was a British music critic. He began his career writing for The Guardian, joining as assistant music critic in 1962 and as chief Northern music critic.
Gerald L. Brady is an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the Delaware House of Representatives, representing District 4 from 2007 to 2022.
Gerald Vincent Casale ( kÉ-SAW-lee) is an American musician. He came to prominence in the late 1970s as co-founder, co-lead vocalist and bass player of the new wave band Devo, which released a top 20 hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It".
Gerald Irving Ratner is a British businessman. He was formerly chief executive of the British jewellery company Ratner Group, now called the Signet Group.
Gerard FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Kildare, was a leading figure in 16th-century Irish history. In 1513 he inherited the title of Earl of Kildare and position of Lord Deputy of Ireland from his father.
Gerald David Lascelles was the younger son of Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood, and Mary, Princess Royal, the only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary. He was a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II.