Gerard
/ˈdʒɛr.ərd/noun
A masculine given name and surname of Germanic origin.
Did you know?Gerard comes from a Germanic compound where the first element means “spear,” the same brutal old war-root behind several other battle names across Europe.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*gaizaz + *harduz
““spear” + “hard, strong, brave””
Old High German
OHG
Gerhard
“A personal name meaning “spear-hard””
Old French
OF
Gerard
“A given name adopted from Germanic into French usage”
Middle English
English
Gerard
“A male personal name and later a surname”
Modern English
English
Gerard
“A masculine given name and family name”