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Gearóid is the Irish form of Gerard, ultimately from the Old High German name Gerhard, composed of the elements ger, meaning spear, and hard, meaning brave or strong. It entered Ireland through the Anglo-Norman influence following the twelfth-century invasion, carried notably by the powerful Fitzgerald earls of Desmond and Kildare, several of whom bore the name and left a significant mark on medieval Irish history. The third Earl of Desmond, Gearóid Iarla, was celebrated as a poet in the Irish language, lending the name considerable cultural prestige. Related forms include Gerald, Gerard, and the Scottish Gaelic Gearard.