Gender Masculine
Pronounced Pron. ji-RAHRD(American English) JEHR-əd(British English) GHEH-rahrt(Dutch) zhə-RART(Catalan) GEH-rart(Polish)  [key·IPA]

Meaning & History

Derived from the Old German element ger meaning "spear" combined with hart meaning "hard, firm, brave, hardy". This name was borne by saints from Belgium, Germany, Hungary and Italy. The Normans introduced it to Britain. It was initially much more common there than the similar name Gerald [1], with which it was often confused, but it is now less common.

Related Names

VariantsGerrard, Jerrard(English) Gerhard, Gerrit(Dutch)
DiminutivesGeert, Gerd, Gerry, Gert(Dutch)
Feminine FormsGerarda, Gerry(Dutch)
Other Languages & CulturesGerhard, Cai, Gert, Kai, Kaj, Kay(Danish) Kai, Kaj(Finnish) Gérard(French) Gerrit, Jorrit, Jurryt, Jurre, Kai, Kay(Frisian) Gerhard, Gerd, Gerhardt, Gert, Hardy, Kai, Kay(German) Gerhard(Germanic) Gellért(Hungarian) Gearóid(Irish) Gerardo, Gherardo(Italian) Ģirts(Latvian) Sjra(Limburgish) Gerhard, Kai, Kaj, Kay(Norwegian) Gerardo(Spanish) Gerhard, Cai, Caj, Gert, Kai, Kaj, Kay(Swedish)
Same SpellingGérard

Popularity

People think this name is

classic   mature   formal   upper class   wholesome   strong   strange   serious  

Name Days

Poland: January 30
Poland: April 23
Poland: September 24
Poland: October 3
Poland: October 16
Poland: November 24

Categories

Sources & References

  1. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of First Names. Oxford, 1990, page 133.
Entry updated December 7, 2022