Holding steady.
Popularity of Jerold since 1912
Babies named Jerold per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 116 |
| 1920s | 385 |
| 1930s | 1,181 |
| 1940s | 1,867 |
| 1950s | 1,449 |
| 1960s | 1,127 |
| 1970s | 569 |
| 1980s | 328 |
| 1990s | 233 |
| 2000s | 101 |
| 2010s | 71 |
| 2020s | 7 |
Meaning & origin
Jerold is a variant of Gerald that saw its peak usage in the United States in 1942, when it ranked highest among baby names. Since then, its use has declined steadily, and by 2025 it is rarely given, with fewer than 5 births per million. The trajectory over the past decade has been stable but at very low numbers. Common nicknames include Jerry, while spelling variants like Jerald and Gerald remain more familiar. Jerold belongs to the mid-century naming style popular in the 1940s.
Jerold is a variant of the name Gerald, which is composed of the Germanic elements 'ger' meaning 'spear' and 'wald' meaning 'rule'. The name was introduced to England by the Normans and was common throughout the Middle Ages. Jerold emerged as a less common spelling variant, likely influenced by names like Jerome or by phonetic spelling.
Where Jerold is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jerry, Jere
Sibling names for Jerold
Names that share Jerold's style, for a brother or sister.
