Gerhard is a name of German origin, derived from the elements "geri" meaning "spear" and "hard" which means "strong, brave". The name has been used in Germany since the Middle Ages and was popular among the nobility. It was also the name of several prominent historical figures, including Gerhard von Augsburg, a 9th-century missionary who is now venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church. Today, Gerhard is still considered a strong and traditional name in German-speaking countries, but it has not gained widespread popularity outside of Germany.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Gerhard has seen a significant shift in popularity over the years in the United States.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there was considerable fluctuation in the number of births each year with the name Gerhard. The highest point during this period was in 1917, with 62 births. However, this figure dropped significantly afterwards, reaching a low of just 5 births in some years between 1946 and 1950.
The middle of the 20th century saw a modest increase in popularity for the name Gerhard, with numbers consistently ranging from around 10 to 30 births per year. This trend continued into the late 20th century, although there were periods where the number of births dropped significantly, such as between 1972 and 1986 where the figure was often below 10.
In recent years, the name Gerhard has seen a slight resurgence in popularity, with numbers ranging from 5 to 13 births per year since 2005. The most recent data available shows that there were 8 births in 2016 and 5 births in both 2017 and 2020.
Overall, while the name Gerhard has not been among the most popular choices for newborns in the United States over the past century, it has maintained a consistent presence, with a total of 2431 births recorded since 1882.