Boy · Germanic (via Norman French) · Christian
Gerald
GeraldSay it JER-uld
- Meaning today
- Rule of the spear, spear ruler
- Original meaning
- "spear-wielder; from ger 'spear' and waltan 'to rule'" Online Etymology Dictionary, s.v. Gerald
- Say it
- JER-uld
- Other spellings
- Gerold, Jerald
Gerald
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Gerald meaning
Gerald is a Christian boy's name of Germanic origin (via Norman French).
Spear-wielder; from ger 'spear' and waltan 'to rule'
Also used to mean: rule of the spear, spear ruler
Gerald is a Germanic name, Old High German Gerwald, made of ger, 'spear', and waltan, 'to rule', so it means roughly 'ruler with the spear'; Etymonline glosses it 'spear-wielder'. The Normans brought it to England and Ireland, where it was often confused with the similar name Gerard. Geraldine is the feminine form. In India Gerald is used by Catholic families in Mangalore, Goa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and is often shortened to Gerry.
Source: Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com), s.v. Gerald · entry Gerald · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Online Etymology Dictionary, Gerald · Wikipedia, Gerald
Spellings
Gerald · Gerold · Jerald