Jerold
Jerold was not among the names given to 5 or more boys in 2025. Its best year was 1942, when it ranked 403rd with 228 babies. More babies were named Jerold in the 1940s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Jerald) variant of Gerald; "spear rule" · Germanic, English
- Rank in 2025
- Not rankedboys
- Babies in 2025
- 0boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1942228 babies
- Total since 1880
- 7,434babies recorded
What does the name Jerold mean?
Jerold is a spelling of Jerald, pronounced the same way, so it shares Jerald's meaning and origin.
Jerald is a spelling of Gerald, a Germanic name made of gēr, "spear", and walt, "power, rule". DMNES lists several medieval saints named Gerald and notes that it was often confused with Gerard. The Normans brought it to England; Jerald is a mainly American spelling, most common in the 1940s and 1950s.
gēr (Old High German, “spear”)walt (Old High German, “power, rule”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Gerald, Jerold, Jerry, Gerard.
See also: Germanic names, names that mean king or queen, names that mean warrior.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Jerald', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Gerald', DMNES (Durham University)
- Wikipedia, 'Jerald', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Jerold popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — |
| 2010 | #11,391 | 6 |
| 2000 | #5,159 | 14 |
| 1990 | #2,345 | 30 |
| 1980 | #1,883 | 30 |
| 1970 | #805 | 102 |
| 1960 | #692 | 129 |
| 1950 | #513 | 171 |
| 1940 | #432 | 182 |
| 1930 | #726 | 76 |
| 1920 | #1,726 | 21 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Jerold, counting every spelling?
Jerold is a spelling of Jerald, a name family that had 26 boys in 2025 across its spellings. Together these spellings went to 26 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jerald | 26 | #4,081 | 130 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How old are people named Jerold?
About 4,000 people born in the US named Jerold are alive today, with a median age of 65; half are between 54 and 76. That makes Jerold a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Jerold by state
How common Jerold was among boys born in each state in 1940–1944, around its peak. It is notably more common than nationally in Wisconsin (3.9×), Nebraska (3.8×), Minnesota (2.4×), Iowa (2.0×). In 27 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Jerold: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Jerold, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Jerold
What does Jerold mean?
Jerold is a spelling of Jerald, which means “variant of Gerald; "spear rule"” (Germanic, English origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Jerold?
Jerold was not among the names given to 5 or more boys in 2025. Its best year was 1942, when it ranked 403rd with 228 babies. More babies were named Jerold in the 1940s than in any other decade.
Is Jerold a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Jerold in the US.
Where was Jerold most popular?
In 1940–1944, Jerold was most common in Wisconsin (0.58 per 1,000 boys), followed by Nebraska and Utah.