Jerard is a name of Germanic origin, derived from the Old German word "Heribert," which means "bright" or "famous." The name was popular among the nobility in medieval Germany and France.
The earliest known use of the name Jerard can be traced back to the 12th century. It was borne by a saint, Saint Heribert of Cologne, who was a bishop in the 10th century. However, the name did not become widespread until the late Middle Ages.
Over time, Jerard has evolved and adapted through various languages and cultures. In some cases, it has been translated or changed to similar-sounding names such as Gerard, Girard, or Gerardo. Despite these variations, the core meaning of "bright" or "famous" has remained consistent throughout its history.
Today, Jerard is still a unique name that carries a rich historical background. It is not as commonly used as some other names of Germanic origin, but it remains a classic choice for parents looking for a distinctive name with a strong heritage.
The name Jerard has seen a varied trend of popularity in the United States over the years, with several peaks and valleys. Between 1920 and 2019, there were a total of 1,039 births registered for the name Jerard.
The earliest available data shows that there were five boys named Jerard born each year from 1920 to 1928. The popularity of the name began to rise in the 1940s and 1950s, with a significant spike in 1954 when eleven babies were given the name.
The 1960s was an era of high popularity for Jerard, with ten or more births every year from 1962 to 1971. The peak occurred in 1971 with twenty-three births. However, this trend did not continue into the following decade as there were only eleven births each year in 1972 and 1973.
The name Jerard experienced another resurgence in popularity during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with over twenty births every year between 1986 and 1994. The highest number of births for this period was thirty-seven in 1986.
Since then, the popularity of Jerard has fluctuated, with a notable decrease in recent years. There were only five boys named Jerard born in each of the years 2016 and 2018, indicating that the name may be less popular today than it was several decades ago.
Despite these fluctuations, Jerard remains a unique and classic name choice, with over one thousand babies having been given this name in the United States since 1920.