What Does the Name Jerry Mean?
Jerry is a boy's name of Germanic origin meaning “spear-ruler (from Gerald/Gerard).”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Jerry |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Germanic |
| Meaning | spear-ruler (from Gerald/Gerard) |
| Variants | Gerald, Gerard, Jerome, Gerry, Jerrold |
| Popularity | A US top-30 name in the 1930s-1950s; it has since become uncommon for newborns. |
The meaning and origin of Jerry
The name Jerry means “spear-ruler (from Gerald/Gerard)” and has Germanic origins. Jerry is commonly a diminutive of Gerald or Gerard, Germanic names whose 'ger' element means 'spear.' It became widely used as an independent given name in 20th-century America.
Variants and related names
Jerry is related to several other names you may recognize: Gerald, Gerard, Jerome, Gerry, Jerrold. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Jerry?
A US top-30 name in the 1930s-1950s; it has since become uncommon for newborns.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Jerry mean?+
The name Jerry means “spear-ruler (from Gerald/Gerard)” and is of Germanic origin.
What is the origin of the name Jerry?+
Jerry originates from Germanic.
Is Jerry a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Jerry has trended in the US over time.
Jerry by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press