Gerald

Gerald is a Germanic given name composed of the elements ger, meaning spear, and wald, meaning rule or power, yielding the overall sense of one who rules with a spear. It was introduced to Britain by the Normans and spread widely through medieval Europe, borne notably by Gerald of Wales, the twelfth-century chronicler and churchman. The name declined in the later Middle Ages but was revived in the nineteenth century and became common in English-speaking countries through the twentieth century. Related forms include Gerard, Geraldine, Jerald, and the Irish Gearóid.