Jerry

Jerry - A very unique male name

Jerry appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #127. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Jerry and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Jerry? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Jerry. The baby boy name Jerry was given to 206 baby boys in 2025, ranking #931 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 7,118 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Jerry peaked in popularity 86 years ago in 1940 on position 14.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Jerry, 1-5?

Jerry is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Jerry is currently topping the baby name charts in Arkansas at position #517 - and is the least popular in New York at position #1,248.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Jerry is where you live.

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Jerry origin and meaning

English — diminutive of Gerald, Jerome and Jeremiah

Pet form of the Jer- and Ger- names, chiefly Gerald (Germanic, 'spear rule') and Jerome (Greek, 'sacred name')

Jerry is the all-purpose short form of Gerald, Jerome, Jeremiah and Gerard that became a giant name in its own right — nearly 19,000 births in its peak year, 1947, and over 600,000 in total. It fell steadily as its generation aged, and by 2025 it sits near the bottom of the top 1,000. As a full name it still carries mid-century America's friendliness.

Attested etymology

Jerry is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Jerry, pop culture references for the name Jerry and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Jerry

We've found the following names that sound similar to Jerry, sorted by popularity.

Jairo / Jagger / Jair / Jakari / Jahir / Jere / Jacari / Jiraiya / Jacorey / Jrue /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Jerry

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Jerry a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Jerry?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

JER-ee · /ˈdʒɛriː/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Gerry — The G-spelling of the same nickname name — a separate entry
• Jerrie — A spelling variant sometimes used for girls

Famous bearers

• Jerry Seinfeld — American comedian and co-creator of Seinfeld, born Jerome Allen Seinfeld and known as Jerry (b. 1954) Contemporary
• Jerry Lewis — American comedian, actor and filmmaker, born Joseph Levitch and famous as Jerry Lewis (1926–2017) Contemporary

Style

Nickname nameClassic

Why parents choose it

A few parents are reviving it for its retro, good-neighbour charm — but most still hear a grandfather.

Worth knowing

• Jerry/Gerry spelling splits, and the name's mid-century weight is heavy: it peaked in 1947.