Given name & surname
Gerold
“one who rules with the spear”
In German use, Gerold has a related form in Gerald. One German interpretation is “one who rules with the spear.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In German use, Gerold has a related form in Gerald. One German interpretation is “one who rules with the spear.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In German use, Gerold has a related form in Gerald. Gerald has been associated with Germanic and Celtic naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1912. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In German use, Gerold has a related form in Gerald. The history of Gerald gives this family its wider story. Gerald’s historical bearers include members of the aristocracy.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Gerold through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,966
- 2,966 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1939
- 90 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 8 in 2002. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for boys was 90 in 1939. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,336 as a first name in 2020; 669 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Gerold’s family of names
In German usage, Gerold has a related form in Gerald.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 16
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Gerold
- Gerold of Anglachgau730-784731–785
- Gerold, Prefect of BavariaAlamaanian nobleman800–799
- Gerold SpäthSwiss poet and writer from Rapperswil on Zürichsee lakeshoreborn 1939
- Gerold BraunmühlGerman diplomat (1935-1986)
- Gerold EdlibachSwiss historian (1454-1530)
- Gerold d'Einsiedeln900–978
- Gerold RahmannGerman farmerborn 1962
- Gerold BührerSwiss politicianborn 1948
- Gerold Meyer von KnonauSwiss medievalist and archivist (1843-1931)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Gerold, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Errol
“a nobleman” · “a wanderer”
>99% boys
Hearold
>99% boys
Rayford
“from the roe deer crossing”
>99% boys
Karel
“a joyous song; a small, strong woman” · “a free man”
>99% boys
Ned
“a wealthy protector”
>99% boys
Jerald
“one who rules with the spear”
>99% boys
Gurney
Gurney is a surname from Norman.
>99% boys
Generoso
“one who is generous”
>99% boys