Geraldine is a name of English origin, derived from the Germanic elements "ger" meaning "spear" and "wald" meaning "rule". It has been used as both a male and female name throughout history, but in recent years, it has become more commonly associated with females. The name Geraldine was popularized by Scottish poet James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose, who wrote a poem about his beloved, Geraldine, in the late 16th century. This poem is considered one of the finest works of Scottish literature and contributed to the name's rise in popularity during that time. In literature, Geraldine has also been used as a character name, most notably by John Keats in his epic poem "The Eve of St. Agnes". Today, Geraldine remains a classic yet distinctive name choice for girls.
The name Gerldine was quite popular between 1915 and 1969, with a total of 483 babies born during this period. The peak years for the name's popularity were 1928 with 18 births and 1933 with 23 births. However, after 1950, there was a significant decrease in the number of girls named Gerldine, with only a handful of births each year until 1969.