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Home › Baby Names Directory › Gervase

Gervase

♂ Boy

Pronounced JUR-vays /ˈdʒɜr.veɪz/Low

Meaning: Gervase is the English form of the medieval name Gervasius, whose first element is usually linked to Germanic ger, 'spear,' with a second part often read as 'servant,' giving 'spear servant.' Borne by an early saint, Gervase, it spread through France and medieval England before becoming rare.Low

In 30 seconds: Gervase is a French and English name from Gervasius, understood as 'spear servant.' It peaked in the early twentieth century (said JUR-vays).
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Origin MediumGermanic, French
MeaningGervase is the English form of the medieval name Gervasius, whose first element is usually linked to Germanic ger, 'spear,' with a second part often read as 'servant,' giving 'spear servant.' Borne by an early saint, Gervase, it spread through France and medieval England before becoming rare.
U.S. rank (1960)#4256 ↘ Falling
1960 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1930
Total births (all-time)≈ 197

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 193019151960

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Gervase comes from the medieval Latin Gervasius, carried by an early Christian martyr venerated with Saint Protase. Its first part is generally tied to Germanic ger, 'spear,' with a second element often read as 'servant,' giving 'spear servant.' Popular in medieval France and England, it survived chiefly as a surname and an occasional first name, with a modest showing in early twentieth-century America.

The name was always scarce, given to only a dozen or so boys a year around its peak near 1930, and it stayed rare thereafter. A boy named Gervase then would be a great-grandfather today.

Did you know? Saint Gervase, an early martyr whose relics were famously discovered by Saint Ambrose, gave this old name its long standing in France and England.
Overall data confidence 50%
References - Gervase — English form of Gervasius (Germanic ger, 'spear', + 'servant'); Saint Gervase

Variations

GervaisGervasiusJarvis

Nicknames

GerryVaseGerv

Famous Bearers

  • ★Gervase of Canterbury (c. 1141-c. 1210)
    English monk and chronicler of Canterbury Cathedral, an early notable bearer of the name

If you like Gervase…

Jarvis— the surname derived from Gervase
Garvin— a like ger- rooted boy's name
Percival— another medieval French-English name
Marquise— another French name
Alphonse— echoes that soft -se sound

Explore names like Gervase

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Gervase mean?

It is a French and English name from the medieval Gervasius, understood as 'spear servant.'

How do you pronounce Gervase?

It is said JUR-vays /ˈdʒɜr.veɪz/, two syllables stressed on the first.

Is Gervase a boy or girl name?

Gervase is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Gervase?

It has always been rare in the United States, most visible in the early twentieth century and scarce ever since.

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