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Geraldine

♀ Girl

Pronounced JEHR-uhl-deen /ˈd͡ʒɛɹ.əl.din/Medium

Meaning: Power of the spearMedium

In 30 seconds: Geraldine is an English name meaning 'power of the spear', the feminine counterpart to Gerald.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningPower of the spear
U.S. rank (2024)#2013 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births97 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1930
Total births (all-time)≈ 211,273

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 193018802024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

The record gives Geraldine the meaning 'power of the spear', built as the feminine of Gerald in the English tradition. Its variations — Géraldine, Geralda and the masculine Jerald, Jerold and Jerrold — trace the spear-named family it belongs to. Bearers include ice hockey Hall of Famer Geraldine Heaney and opera star Geraldine Farrar.

Three full syllables and a soft -ine ending give it a classic, dignified sound. The warrior meaning sits under an otherwise gentle, vintage name.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Geraldine is 'power of the spear', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Geraldine — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

GéraldineGeraldaJeraldJeroldJerrold

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Geraldine Heaney (b. 1967)
    Irish-Canadian ice hockey defender and coach; Olympic gold medalist and Hockey Hall of Fame inductee.
  • ★Geraldine Farrar (1882–1967)
    American lyric soprano and silent-film actress; a leading star of the Metropolitan Opera in the early 20th century.

If you like Geraldine…

Gerald— The masculine name Geraldine is built from, same 'spear' meaning.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Geraldine mean?

Geraldine is usually explained as meaning 'power of the spear' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Geraldine?

It's commonly said JEHR-uhl-deen /ˈd͡ʒɛɹ.əl.din/.

Is Geraldine a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Geraldine is used as a girl name.

How popular is Geraldine?

In 2024, Geraldine ranked #2013 in the U.S. for girls, with 97 births recorded.