Holding steady, #12,008 for boys today.
Popularity of Gershom since 1982
Babies named Gershom per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 31 |
| 1990s | 48 |
| 2000s | 54 |
| 2010s | 53 |
| 2020s | 26 |
Meaning & origin
Gershom is a deeply rare biblical name with a distinct sound and heritage. In 2025, it ranked 12,008th in U.S. births, given to about 1 in 341,615 boys. Its peak usage occurred in 2006, though it has never been common. The name has maintained a stable trajectory over recent decades, appearing only occasionally in birth records. First recorded in U.S. data in 1982, Gershom has no strong association with any particular state, appearing sporadically across the country. Its meaning ties directly to the Hebrew Bible, where Moses names his son Gershom to reflect his own experience as a foreigner. This makes the name a poignant choice for families seeking an obscure but meaningful Old Testament name, though its rarity may lead to frequent mispronunciations or misspellings.
Gershom is a biblical name from the Hebrew root גרש (g-r-sh), meaning 'to drive out' or 'to expel,' fitting the narrative of Moses' son born 'a stranger in a foreign land' (Exodus 2:22, 18:3). The name has been used among Jewish communities for centuries and occasionally appears in English-speaking contexts as a rare given name.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Gershon
Sibling names for Gershom
Names that share Gershom's style, for a brother or sister.
