Holding steady.
Popularity of Gerilyn since 1942
Babies named Gerilyn per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1959, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Gerilyn's real moment was 1965.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 48 |
| 1950s | 203 |
| 1960s | 242 |
| 1970s | 99 |
| 1980s | 71 |
| 1990s | 19 |
| 2000s | 7 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Gerilyn first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1942, a product of the mid-20th century trend of creating feminine names by blending established names with the popular -lyn suffix. Its peak year was 1965, though it never entered the top 1000 and remains a rare choice. The name is essentially a modern invention, not rooted in any ancient language or culture. Its trajectory has been stable but minimal, with very few births in recent decades. Gerilyn is primarily associated with the 1960s, a time when similar blends like Geralyn and Jeralyn also saw some use.
Gerilyn is a modern American coinage, formed by combining elements from names like Geraldine (from Gerald, meaning 'rule of the spear') and the popular suffix -lyn (from Lynn, originally a Welsh river name). It first appeared in the 1940s and saw modest use mid-century, particularly in the 1960s. Its usage has since declined, remaining relatively uncommon.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Gerri, Lyn, Gerry
Sibling names for Gerilyn
Names that share Gerilyn's style, for a brother or sister.
