The name Gerard, often spelled as Gernard, is of Germanic origin and means 'brave' or 'strong spear'. It was brought to Britain by the Normans during the 11th century and has since been widely used in English-speaking countries. The name Gerard is composed of two elements: 'ger', which means 'spear', and '-hard', a suffix meaning 'strong' or 'brave'. This gives the name its meaning, reflecting the qualities of bravery and strength associated with it.
"Gernard had a surge in popularity with 7 births in 1972, then dipped slightly to 5 births in 1974 before rising again to 5 births in 1984. Over these three years, the name Gernard saw a total of 17 newborns."