Holding steady.
Popularity of Gerda since 1887
Babies named Gerda per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1915, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Gerda's real moment was 1899.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 20 |
| 1890s | 92 |
| 1900s | 91 |
| 1910s | 260 |
| 1920s | 218 |
| 1930s | 205 |
| 1940s | 75 |
| 1950s | 80 |
| 1960s | 51 |
| 1970s | 7 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Gerda is a distinctly Scandinavian name with deep mythological roots. Its peak year in the United States was 1899, when it appeared in Social Security records, but it has never ranked in the top 1000 since modern tracking began. While the one-in-N ratio for recent years is unavailable due to its rarity, the name shows a stable trajectory, neither rising nor falling in the few annual births it receives. Historically popular in Nordic countries, Gerda has been used in America almost exclusively by families with Scandinavian heritage. With no recorded top states, its usage is scattered and minimal, reflecting a name that has remained firmly outside mainstream trends.
Gerda derives from Old Norse 'gerðr,' meaning 'enclosure' or 'protection,' often interpreted as 'protector' or 'guardian.' In Norse mythology, Gerðr is a frost giantess and the wife of the god Freyr, a story preserved in the Poetic Edda. The name has been used in Scandinavia since the 19th century revival of Old Norse names.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Gerd
Variants: Gerd, Gerður
Sibling names for Gerda
Names that share Gerda's style, for a brother or sister.
