Gervaise is a female given name of Latin origin, derived from the Latin word "gerberus," which means "spear." The name was likely brought to France by early Christian missionaries and became popular among the French nobility during the Middle Ages.
In France, Gervaise was traditionally used as both a feminine and masculine name. However, over time, it has become more commonly associated with females. Some notable figures in history who bore this name include Gervaise de Saint-Martin, a French abbess and mystic from the 17th century, and Gervaise Danon, a French painter from the 19th century.
Despite its historical popularity, Gervaise is not as commonly used today. It may be considered somewhat old-fashioned or even unfamiliar to some people in contemporary times. Nonetheless, it remains an interesting and unique name with a rich history and distinct meaning.
Between the years of 1911 and 1966, a total of 54 babies were named Gervaise in the United States. The number of newborns with this name fluctuated from year to year, with some periods seeing more births than others.
In the early part of the 20th century, there was a noticeable spike in the popularity of the name Gervaise, with five girls being named Gervaise each year between 1911 and 1916. This trend continued through to 1930, during which time the number of annual births ranged from five to seven.
However, after a gap of nearly three decades, there was another small resurgence in the use of this name in the United States. Between the years 1964 and 1966, six babies were named Gervaise each year.
Despite these fluctuations, the overall popularity of the name Gervaise has remained relatively low throughout history. In fact, there have been many more years with no recorded births of girls named Gervaise than those with even a single birth. Nonetheless, for those who do choose this distinctive name for their daughters, they can be assured that their child will join a small but notable group of individuals who share this unique moniker.