Geraldine
From Gerald + -ine. c. 1540 by the Earl of Surrey as a poetic name for Lady Elizabeth Fitzgerald, "one of the Fitzgeralds".
Every Geraldine since 1880 — 212,097 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Geraldine
Geraldine is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #2,447 in 2025 with 73 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 212,097 American babies have been named Geraldine. Its peak came in 1930, when 5,471 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1930s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Geraldine stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Geraldine year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 73 | #2,447 | — | — |
| 2024 | 98 | #2,004 | — | — |
| 2023 | 131 | #1,599 | — | — |
| 2022 | 131 | #1,617 | — | — |
| 2021 | 132 | #1,590 | — | — |
| 2020 | 98 | #1,952 | — | — |
| 2019 | 147 | #1,490 | — | — |
| 2018 | 121 | #1,713 | — | — |
| 2017 | 132 | #1,637 | — | — |
| 2016 | 140 | #1,583 | — | — |
| 2015 | 130 | #1,648 | — | — |
| 2014 | 158 | #1,442 | — | — |
| 2013 | 163 | #1,406 | — | — |
| 2012 | 254 | #995 | — | — |
| 2011 | 265 | #967 | — | — |
| 2010 | 209 | #1,162 | — | — |
| 2009 | 202 | #1,231 | — | — |
| 2008 | 165 | #1,431 | — | — |
| 2007 | 137 | #1,625 | — | — |
| 2006 | 144 | #1,522 | — | — |
| 2005 | 165 | #1,331 | — | — |
| 2004 | 186 | #1,202 | — | — |
| 2003 | 127 | #1,529 | — | — |
| 2002 | 92 | #1,923 | — | — |
| 2001 | 104 | #1,730 | — | — |
| 2000 | 95 | #1,822 | — | — |
| 1995 | 115 | #1,421 | — | — |
| 1990 | 198 | #951 | — | — |
| 1985 | 125 | #1,143 | — | — |
| 1980 | 109 | #1,209 | — | — |
| 1975 | 156 | #859 | — | — |
| 1970 | 517 | #426 | — | — |
| 1965 | 916 | #291 | — | — |
| 1960 | 1,430 | #224 | — | — |
| 1955 | 2,197 | #162 | 12 | #2,352 |
| 1950 | 3,451 | #102 | 9 | #2,649 |
| 1945 | 4,475 | #56 | 15 | #1,809 |
| 1940 | 5,150 | #46 | 23 | #1,416 |
| 1935 | 4,818 | #40 | 23 | #1,435 |
| 1930 | 5,448 | #43 | 23 | #1,546 |
| 1925 | 4,838 | #54 | 14 | #2,238 |
| 1920 | 4,265 | #60 | 9 | #3,057 |
| 1915 | 1,866 | #108 | 6 | #3,568 |
| 1910 | 551 | #148 | — | — |
| 1905 | 259 | #190 | — | — |
| 1900 | 145 | #269 | — | — |
| 1895 | 81 | #320 | — | — |
| 1890 | 27 | #501 | — | — |
| 1885 | 19 | #491 | — | — |
| 1880 | 7 | #700 | — | — |
Famous people named Geraldine
- Geraldine Chaplin Actor · b. 1944
- Geraldine Page Actor · 1924–1987
- Geraldine of Albania Companion · 1915–2002
- Geraldine McEwan Actor · 1932–2015
- Geraldine Farrar Actor · 1882–1967
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Geraldine mean?
From Gerald + -ine. c. 1540 by the Earl of Surrey as a poetic name for Lady Elizabeth Fitzgerald, "one of the Fitzgeralds".
How popular is the name Geraldine in 2025?
Geraldine ranked #2,447 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 73 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Geraldine?
212,097 babies have been named Geraldine in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Geraldine most popular?
Geraldine peaked in 1930, when 5,471 newborns received the name.
Is Geraldine a boy or girl name?
Geraldine is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Geraldine rising or falling?
Geraldine is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Geraldine?
Well-known people named Geraldine include Geraldine Chaplin (actor), Geraldine Page (actor), Geraldine of Albania (companion).