Gerry is a name of Irish origin, derived from the Irish given name Gearóid or Gerald. It is believed to have originated from the Old German name Gerhard, which was composed of the elements "gar" meaning "spear" and "hard" meaning "strong, brave". Therefore, Gerry as a name can be interpreted to mean "brave spear".
The name Gerry has been in use for many centuries, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to medieval times. It was quite common in Ireland during the Middle Ages, but it also spread to other parts of Europe and eventually became popular in countries like England, Scotland, and France.
In the United States, Gerry gained popularity during the 19th century. According to data from the Social Security Administration, the peak usage of the name Gerry for boys occurred in 1924, when it ranked among the top 500 most popular names. Although its popularity has since declined, Gerry remains a recognized and respected name choice today.
Some notable individuals who have borne the name Gerry include American politician Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814), after whom the political practice of gerrymandering is named, as well as British actor Gerald "Gerry" Adams (born 1936).
Based on the provided statistics, the name Gerry has seen a significant fluctuation in popularity over the years in the United States.
The earliest data point shows that there were only 7 babies named Gerry born in 1904. This number remained relatively low until the 1930s when we start to see an increase. In 1936, the number of births jumped to 134, marking a significant rise in popularity.
The peak in popularity for the name Gerry occurred between the late 1950s and early 1960s, with over 500 babies named Gerry born each year from 1956 to 1962. The highest number recorded during this period was 524 births in 1958.
However, the popularity of the name Gerry began to decline after the late 1960s. By the early 1970s, the number of babies named Gerry had decreased significantly, with only 161 births recorded in 1972.
This downward trend continued into the 1980s and 1990s, with fewer than 100 babies named Gerry born each year. The lowest point occurred in 1997, with only 37 births recorded.
Despite the decline, the name Gerry has maintained some level of popularity into the 21st century. Although the numbers are much lower than they were in previous decades, there have been between 6 and 20 babies named Gerry born each year since 2000.
In total, over the course of more than a century, from 1904 to 2023, there have been 14,452 babies named Gerry born in the United States. This statistic underscores the enduring, if somewhat fluctuating, appeal of the name Gerry among American parents.