I’ve blogged on the subject of names a few times. But thus far I’ve neglected to cover the singular most important one to me: my own.
So this post aims to put that right. Even if it is a little indulgent.
In case you’re wondering, Geraldine is pronounced [JER-əl-deen]. I’ve never actually had a problem with people mispronouncing my name, although I have found that people often want to spell it with a ‘J’.
Get to the point
Geraldine is a classic name, not a modern incarnation.
As the feminine form of Gerald, it derived from the Germanic Gerward – a compound name composed from the elements ger (a spear) and wald (rule).
Hence Geraldine literally means “spear ruler” or “to rule with a spear”.
I like that image. It reminds me of Queen Boadicea: strong, determined, fearless.
I also like the fact that my name has Germanic origins, seeing as I’m half German.
The Normans brought the name to Britain in the Middle Ages. Although it soon died out in England, it remained common in Ireland – developing into the Norman-Irish surname Fitzgerald.
A female member of the Fitzgerald clan was known as a “Geraldine”. That’s another apt connection as I have some Irish blood too.
Keeping it short
There are far too many pet names for Geraldine to list them all here, but a few of the more popular ones are:
- Geri/Gerry
- Jeri/Jerry
- Dina/Deena/Dyna
- G/Gee/GeGe
- Ger
- Gezza
However, I much prefer the full version, which is how I’ve always introduced myself.
Variants of Geraldine can also be found in other European countries, namely:
- Geralda / Geraldina (Spanish)
- Giralda (Italian)
- Gerhardine (German)
- Géraldine (French)
- Gearуidin (Irish Gaelic)
Celebs named Geraldine
There have been several famous Geraldines over the years, including:
- Geraldine Chaplin, actress (whom I was apparently named after)
- Geraldine James, actress
- Geraldine McEwan, actress
- Geraldine Somerville, actress
- Geri Halliwell, pop star
As for on-screen characters, perhaps the best known is Geraldine Granger (aka the Vicar of Dibley) played by Dawn French.
And who could forget my namesake on The Good Life? Thanks to the TV series, I expect quite a few goats bear my name, including this one spotted at a local rescue centre.
Popularity stakes
As a baby name, Geraldine was at its hottest from the 1910s through to the 1940s. After peaking in the US at number 38 in 1931, it now ranks a lowly 2,065. Here in the UK, it came in at 98th back in 1944, but is outside the top 1,000 these days.
Not surprisingly I’ve only met one other Geraldine in real life and that was on my modern languages course at uni.
Even though there might not be that many of us around, never forget that we Geraldines “rule by the spear”… so you’d do well not to mess with us!
Over to you
What do you know about YOUR name? What does it mean? Any unusual nicknames? Or do you share it with any famous people? I’d love to hear in the comments.
Image credits: G coaster via / Boadicea via Flickr under C.C. / Geraldine the goat via The Rescue Ranch
Hi Everyone, I’m a Geraldine and I have had all Nic Names, my favourite is (G). However I answer to all of them.
Our name is very much unique and I can not remember a time when I didn’t like it. I have always been very much an individual and I love the fact we are different, have never wanted to be same as everyone else.
Spear Ruler.
Greetings, fellow Geraldine 🙂
I’m a 75 year old Irish Geraldine. I never had a problem with my name when I was living in Ireland as its quite a common name. When I moved to England 30 years ago I get called, Gwendoline, Jennifer, Genevieve , Glenda….when I was working many colleagues called me Gezza. I got to the stage I answered to everything Now as a senior citizen I introduce myself as Geri..short and simple and that gets remembered. I actually prefer Ger (pronounced as in Jer..sey rather than gir as in girl) Ger caused pronouncing problems so I stick with Geri. For other Geraldine’s I would refer you to the town of Kilkenny in Ireland, the ancient seat of the mighty Fitzgerald clan and there you will find, Geraldine Castle, The Geraldine Arms (a pub) and lots of Geraldine street names. Wear the name with pride, it’s a mighty name.
Hi Geraldine, many thanks for stopping by. Interesting to hear some of the different names you were called after moving to England, which must have taken some getting used to! I shall definitely have to put Kilkenny on my travel bucket list as it would be awesome to visit so many places bearing ‘my’ name 😉
Hi I’m a Geraldine. I’m not keen on it. When someone asks my name I feel embarrassed. As they have never heard it. Everyone calls me ger. It seems like and old persons name lol. I’m 39. I’m trying to like it more but no cups or key rings ever have are name on it. I hope it’s comes back like some of the older names. Xx
Nice to meet another Geraldine! It’s a shame you don’t like our unusual name, but maybe it was a bit more common when I was growing up as I’m a fair bit older than you – it doesn’t seem so old-fashioned to me. My siblings call me Ger too 🙂
Hi. I go by Gerrie. Glad I somehow landed here. I have a new respect for my name now though I still prefer Gerrie as I think the full version is a little old for me.. I am a young 53. 🙂
Hi there, Gerrie, so pleased you found & enjoyed this post! It’s interesting how we all view names & ages so differently, as we’re not dissimilar in age yet I don’t consider Geraldine too old…
P.S. I’ve not seen that spelling for Gerry before 🙂
I like my name but I am referred to by most as Gerry. Either way is ok with me.
Ha, yes, it’s perfectly understandable why others should choose to shorten our name, as Geraldine is a bit of a mouthful!
I hate it…with vengeance Named after a baby that died in the 1918 flu epidemic, and also named in honour of Bernie Hool MD (who then missed my near fatal pneumonia at three weeks old) Oh my god Geraldine Bernadette, unmistakably TWO VERY MASCULINE names, I’m 5’7” flat chested and narrow hips… I could murder those that call me Gerry.. I’m no Gerry Hall (not on your list?) but most people I know understand and don’t try it on. Seriously at age 65 I am truly contemplating changing it to something feminine. That might sound unpopular even unwise to young people but I can’t stand it. You also missed off your list that Icon of femininity Geraldine McQueen. I do have a very cute nickname invented by my best friend in 1963…as only CLOSE family and CLOSE friends know this name I get quite twitchy when strangers latch on and use it … it’s Gel, my lovely uncles transformed this into Jelly, Jellybeans, and Beans when I was a child and I adored that. But mother you were sooooooo wrong!
Sorry to hear that you don’t like the name Geraldine! I guess, like most things in life, it’s a personal thing. My list was never intended to be exhaustive, but Jerry Hall isn’t a Geraldine (unlike Geri Halliwell) & I hadn’t heard of the character Geraldine McQueen before. I agree that Gel is cute though 🙂
I’m a Geraldine too but usually call myself Gee. I hate being called Gerry by strangers. I got called Gerald in highschool, Ged by close friends and Gid by my family. I love that Agatha Christie featured ‘Geraldine’ in a few of her murder mysteries and love that The Vicar of Dibley was one too. I’ve liked having an unusual name more as I got older.
Love hearing all your alt names for Geraldine! Gid is a new one to me…
I agree that it’s always great when a TV character shares our name, although I got teased a lot about the goat on The Good Life 🙂
Hi my name is Geraldine know a few get called Geri and Gezza and Ged don’t mind Geri mum and Nan called me that but close friends and family call me Gel or Gels which is my preference
Thanks for popping by! Yet another new one as I don’t think anyone else has mentioned Gel/Gels before. So many ways to shorten Geraldine…
It’s really interesting to know that there people actually bearing this unique name
When I was growing as a child I didn’t like the name but my primary school teacher made me had a different view on the name and so I started liking it
My school pals calls me Galadina, close pals calls me G while my family members calls me Geraldine and I simply prefer to have my name called fully
We Geraldine called by names are unique beings as we can’t be messed with
Pleased to ‘meet’ a fellow Geraldine 🙂
I’m a Geraldine, friends and husband call me “Ger”, my mother has always called me “Gerri”, but my father and family call me Geraldine. As a young girl I didn’t like my name but as I’ve aged, I’ve come to appreciate having a different name and of course the meaning definitely fits. I live in a fairly small town, there are three of us and we all work in the legal field.
Thank you for your article.
Thank YOU for your comment! Lovely to ‘meet’ another Geraldine – we’re a rare breed – although not so rare in your town by the sounds of it (I can’t believe there are three of you & all in the same line of work!). My sister calls me “Ger”, my brothers sometimes “Gezza” & uni friends (+ their offspring) have always called me “G”, but to everyone else I’m definitely Geraldine 🙂
It’s interesting that some people want to spell your name with a J. I have the opposite problem, or people (e.g. call centres) ask ‘is that with a g or a j?’ I’m Jerry to old friends, Jer to a few, Jem to one or two, and Jezza as a joke with my old school chums.
In return I’d never have expected people to want to spell Jeremy with a G! But I guess it is confusing, especially to non-native speakers, as both our names start with the same sounding first syllable.
I was Gerry at school (which I never liked because of mum being German) then G at uni. Old college friends still call me that, as do their children. But my own family all call me Geraldine.
Top tip: unfriend anyone who calls you Gezza.
Goes without saying!