Declining since 2020, #3,513 for boys today.
Popularity of Geronimo since 1906
Babies named Geronimo per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2009, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Geronimo's real moment was 1907.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 12 |
| 1910s | 79 |
| 1920s | 194 |
| 1930s | 129 |
| 1940s | 159 |
| 1950s | 208 |
| 1960s | 220 |
| 1970s | 342 |
| 1980s | 311 |
| 1990s | 366 |
| 2000s | 438 |
| 2010s | 410 |
| 2020s | 217 |
Meaning & origin
Geronimo is a bold and historically charged name, directly evoking the Apache leader who resisted Mexican and American expansion. First recorded in U.S. data in 1906, just before Geronimo's death, the name saw its peak popularity in 1907, when it ranked 339th. Since then it has become much rarer; in 2025 it ranked 3,513th, with about 1 in 53,377 boys receiving the name. The name's trajectory has been falling since the 2020s. Texas and California are the top states for the name, reflecting its strongest historical and cultural ties to the Southwest. While never common, Geronimo maintains a persistent place in American naming due to its association with Native American heritage and the famous parachutist cry. Parents choosing Geronimo today may appreciate its distinctive sound and cultural resonance, though it remains a name with complex associations that are deeply tied to a particular historical figure.
Geronimo is the Spanish-influenced name of the famous Apache leader Goyaałé (1829-1909), whose nickname may have derived from Spanish soldiers' invocation of Saint Jerome (Spanish Jerónimo). The name entered wider American use after his death, boosted by a 1939 film and later by World War II paratroopers who shouted 'Geronimo!' as a battle cry. It remains a rare but recognizable given name, especially in the southwestern United States.
Where Geronimo is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Gerry, Gero, Nimo
Sibling names for Geronimo
Names that share Geronimo's style, for a brother or sister.
