Origin, Meaning, And History Of Geraldine
Geraldine is a given name of German origin and is the feminine form of the name Gerald. The latter was composed of two elements, “ger,” which means ‘spear’ and “wald,” which means ‘authority or power’ giving the name the meaning’ the spear’s power.’
The name is believed to have a long legacy, originating in the year 1537. The English poet Henry Howard coined the name for his Sonnet written to praise Lady Elizabeth FitzGerald, whom he regarded as The Geraldine. It is also the name of a dynasty called The Geraldines, originally called the FitzGerald dynasty, which are the largest landowners of Ireland.
Although the name was more popular in the early part of the 20th century, it is slowly regaining its earlier popularity. The name Geraldine is spelled Géraldine in French. The name may also be used for a baby boy with spelling variations such as Gerald, Jerrold, Gerry, Jerald, Jerold, and Jerry. You may also explore the names Jeri, Jerry, Jerri, and Jerrie for cute and shorter nicknames.
In recent years, the popularity of the name Geraldine has declined somewhat, but it remains a classic and timeless name that is still used today. The name was the most popular in the late 1900s.
Geraldine is also a favorite in popular culture. Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poemChristabelfeatures a character that goes by the name Geraldine. Geraldine Jones is an African-American character and the comedy persona inFlip Wilson。Geraldine Grangeris the female vicar on the hit and popular BBC sitcomThe Vicar of Dibley。最后,杰拉尔丁Littlejohnis a character in the movieCyberbully。
How To Pronounce Geraldine?
Famous People With The Name Geraldine
- Geraldine Leigh ChaplinAn American actress known for her role in David Lean’s Doctor Zhivago and a Golden Globe nominee for the same
- Geraldine Sue PageAn American actress with several accolades, including an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and four Tony Award nominations
- Geraldine Mary FitzgeraldAn Irish-born actress and an Emmy award recipient with Tony and Academy Award nominations
Geraldine On The Popularity Chart
The name Geraldine hasn’t been much popular as of recently. The graphs below by the Social Security Administration show how the name has fared over the years.
Popularity Over Time
The name peaked in the year 1988, with 355 babies per million sharing the name. After that, it started declining, with the next highest number in 2011.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
This classy, feminine name has performed poorly on the ranking charts, with its highest rank of 576th in the year 1988. Explore the graph below for detailed insights.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound To Geraldine
If you like the name Geraldine, you’ll love these other names which sound similar to this traditional and classic name.
Popular Sibling Names For Geraldine
Other Popular Names Beginning With G
Names With A Similar Meaning As Geraldine
There are many other names that share a similar connotation as Geraldine. Find such names you like from the list below.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
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In Sign Language
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In Braille Alphabet
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In Morse Code
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Name Numerology For Geraldine
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Geraldine?
The name Geraldine means ‘authority’ or ‘power.’
2. What is the origin of the name Geraldine?
Geraldine has a German origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Geraldine?
Geraldine is pronounced as ge-ral-dine.
4. Is Geraldine a name used for both boys and girls historically?
No, Geraldine is a feminine name and has been historically used for girls. The name is a feminine variant of Gerald, which means ‘rule by the spear.’ It was invented by the poet Henry Howard to refer to Lady Elizabeth FitzGerald in his 1537 sonnet.
5. Are there any famous songs or poems that mention the name Geraldine?
是的,杰拉尔丁是一首由the rock band Glasvegas, released in 2008. Additionally, Christabel is a narrative ballad in which the main character encounters a mysterious character named Geraldine.
6. Is there a specific trait associated with the name Geraldine?
Geraldine holds optimism and a dynamic trait. According to numerology, people named Geraldine tend to have unique perspectives with a peaceful and harmonious approach to things. However, a child with the same name may also have an entirely different personality or trait, and it is important to remember that such attributes vary from person to person.
