The nameGerhard

Meaning

Gerhard comes from the Germanic ger, "spear", and hard, "strong, brave": "strong spear".

Origin

German, also Dutch and Scandinavian. It is the German form of Gerard.

History

Gerhard is a classic in Germany and Austria, very common among men born in the mid-20th century. In the United States it was mostly given in German families and reached 448th place in 1885. The Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator, known in German as Gerhard Mercator, created the famous world map projection of 1569.

Famous people named Gerhard

• Gerhard Richter, painter
• Gerhard Schröder, German Chancellor
• Gerhard Mercator, map maker
• Gerhard Berger, racing driver

Popularity of the name Gerhard

Gerhard in the United States

Gerhard was most popular in the United States in the 1920s, with 460 births over the decade, 19% of all recorded babies named Gerhard. Its rise began around 1883, and it peaked in 1917. Half of all babies named Gerhard in the United States were born before 1934, so it is mostly a great-grandparents' generation name.

Gerhard in Austria

Gerhard was most popular in Austria in the 1980s, with 1,515 births over the decade, 60% of all recorded babies named Gerhard. Half of all babies named Gerhard in Austria were born before 1988, so it is mostly a parents' generation name.