Holding steady.
Popularity of Geralynn since 1942
Babies named Geralynn per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 17 |
| 1950s | 193 |
| 1960s | 167 |
| 1970s | 30 |
| 1980s | 20 |
| 1990s | 6 |
| 2000s | 11 |
| 2010s | 11 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Geralynn is a modern American blend of Geraldine and Lynn, first recorded in 1942. It reached its peak year in 1959, when it saw its highest usage, though it never entered the national top 1,000. The name has remained very rare, with a stable trajectory in the decades since its peak. Its popularity reflects mid-century naming trends that favored elaborate feminine forms ending in -lynn, such as Marilyn and Carolyn. Parents in the 1950s, the peak decade for Geralynn, often sought names that felt both familiar and distinctive. Today, Geralynn is a curiosity, a relic of a particular era's naming sensibility.
Geralynn appears to be a modern coinage combining elements of Geraldine (from Gerald, ultimately from Germanic 'spear rule') with the popular suffix -lynn (from Welsh 'lake'). It emerged in the United States during the mid-20th century, first recorded in 1942, and reached its peak popularity in 1959. The name is used almost exclusively for girls.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Gerri, Lynn
Sibling names for Geralynn
Names that share Geralynn's style, for a brother or sister.
