Details for the forename Gerard

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Gerard (male)


Variants:	Garrit (M) Geert (M) Gellért (M) Gerardo (M) Gerhard (M) Gerhardt (M) Gerhart (M) Gerrit (M) Gerritt (M) Gert (M) Girardus (M)
Pet Name(s):	Ged (M) Gerry (M) Jerry (M)
Derivative(s):	Garret (M) Garry (M) Gary (M)
Can be spelt:	Gerrard (M) Jerrard (M)
Feminine form:	Geerta (F) Gerardine (F) Gerharde (F)

Source(s):	The Oxford Names Companion, OUP "Scottish Forenames" - Donald Whyte, FGH, FSG
Notes:	English, Irish and Dutch, from Old German "strong with the spear". Introduced into England by the Normans along with Gerald which has a similar but different origin. The French form is accented: Gérard and the Frisian form is Garrit or Gerrit. Since the revival in usage of both names in the 19^th century, Gerald has been the more popular although Gerard has had more or less continuous favour in aristocratic families.