I used to dislike [name_m]Gerald[/name_m] because I thought it was clunky and stiff. However, recently I’ve heard [name_m]Gerald[/name_m] a lot (long story) and started to find it tolerable, and now I’ve decided I love it. [name_m]Hence[/name_m] this post.
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[name_m]Gerald[/name_m] is dated, but I don’t mind that much, especially since it isn’t synonymous with a particular decade (to me, anyway!) [name_f][/name_f]- it just has a general old-fashioned 19th century/first half of the 20th century feel. It’s an established name, not exactly classic, sturdy, doesn’t draw much attention to itself. It’s derived from a Germanic name, was brought to [name_f]England[/name_f] by the Normans (!), was popular during medieval times before being revived (thanks to writers of historical novels) in the 19th century, and has the strength, clunkiness and awesome meaning (‘power of the spear’) which that implies. I think that’s fascinating.
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I like the softness of the starting ‘j’ sound and the harshness of the ‘ld’ ending [name_f][/name_f]- it wraps the name up nicely. There’s something satisfying about saying it! It’s very formal and strong, dependable, helpful, but strangely romantic in a way most similar names aren’t. I think it sounds like the name of a formidable person.
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The only thing that bothers me is [name_m]Jerry[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- I don’t mind it, but it bores me, and I don’t love it nearly as much as [name_m]Gerald[/name_m].
Me personally, I’m more of a unique name person. But I don’t dislike [name_m]Gerald[/name_m]. It’s a classic for sure, in a good way. And I’d probably call him [name_m]Jer[/name_m], or Jer-Bear for a NN. It’s handsome for a classic name. And I wouldn’t think twice about when meeting someone with the name. Idk why, but it gives me [name_m]Arther[/name_m] vibes. Not sure why. Probably because it’s that classic sound that you can’t go wrong with.
I love [name_m]Gerald[/name_m]! It’s actually my grandpa’s name, and he’s always worn it so well – he’s an avid consumer of history and loves antique book stores & baseball!
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Although [name_m]Gerald[/name_m] is certainly dated and a bit clunky, that’s part of what I love about it! It’s got this formidable intelligence and strength that comes with that ending -d sound (sort of along the lines of [name_m]Harold[/name_m], [name_m]Edward[/name_m], or Desmond) that is so underrated and grounded. I could picture a [name_m]Gerald[/name_m] at any age and in any field of work – from an artist to a professor to a doctor, so it’s beyond versatile!
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I do love [name_m]Jerry[/name_m] as a nickname, but it definitely brings in a more playful, cozy element that you might not like if you mainly appreciate [name_m]Gerald[/name_m] for it’s sturdiness. I would say [name_m]Jerry[/name_m] is completely avoidable though, as long as you were to enforce it.
While [name_m]Gerald[/name_m] is not to my personal tastes [name_f][/name_f]- it does lean too clunky to me and I associate it with an older relative [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f][/name_f] I think I would be pleasantly surprised to meet a young [name_m]Gerald[/name_m]. A bit like when I met a young [name_m]Jeffery[/name_m].
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Objectively, it does have a cool meaning and its clunky, strong vibes fit in with the likes of [name_m]Stanley[/name_m], [name_m]Benedict[/name_m], [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m], [name_m]Lawrence[/name_m], [name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m] and so on [name_f][/name_f]- and it did fit with your lists (from when I ranked them)
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In regards to the nickname Gerry/Jerry, it might not be totally avoidable, but so as long as you don’t completely despise it, I don’t think it [name_f][/name_f] should put you off the name. [name_f][/name_f] Maybe finding one that you like would help, just in case? [name_m]Ged[/name_m] / [name_m]Jed[/name_m], Raley, [name_f]Gem[/name_f] / [name_m]Jem[/name_m] for example?
@QueenSereia Thank you!! Yes, Gerald is similar to Arthur - and Albert, Alfred, Edmund, Edgar, Edward, Ronald, Donald, etc… They just have that ring to them.
@daisydarcy Thank you!! The tie to your grandfather is sweet.
I agree with all of this!
@greyblue Thank you!! And Gerald ‘Jem’ is a great idea - a bit stretchy, maybe, but I like it!
[name_m]Gerald[/name_m] is sweet [name_f][/name_f]- It automatically makes me think of the popular children’s book Piggy and [name_m]Gerald[/name_m] series. [name_m]Gerald[/name_m] is the elephant.