Name meaning & stats
Gerard
Gerard means “brave spear” (Germanic origin). 45,147 US babies since 1940, peak 1956. Notable Gerards are 1.4× over-represented as writers.
What it means
“brave spear”
GermanicWell documented
In US birth records
Peak year: 1956
45,147 US babies were named Gerard between 1940 and 2025.
Where Gerards end up
Not enough notable Gerards yet, so this uses the spelling family: Gerard, Gerhard.
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Politician | 1.3× | High · 26 people |
| Writer | 1.4× | Medium · 18 people |
| Actor | 1.1× | Medium · 17 people |
| Professor | 1.1× | Medium · 14 people |
Among notable men who are writers, the Gerard family show up 1.4× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Gerard has a surprise career: 1.4×
Spelling family
The most common spelling: 93% of the family
- Gerard 93%
- Gerhard 2%
- Gerrod 2%
- Gerrard 1%
- Gerad 1%
- Gerrad 1%
- Gerod 1%
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1956)