Jerry

Diminutive of Gerald or Jerome, German or Greek
"ruler with the spear or sacred name"

Jerry Origin and Meaning

The name Jerry is a boy's name meaning "ruler with the spear or sacred name".

Jerry is one of those short forms that, like Mike and Debbie, rose to popularity on the coattails of their formal versions. The equivalents today are nickname names like Ellie and Theo.

Though Jerry has been on a long slow downward slide for 80 years, it still ranks among the Top 1000 baby boy names in the US.

# 753 in the US

Jerry Rank in US Top 1000

Jerry Popularity

Famous People Named Jerry

  • Jerome Allen "Jerry" SeinfeldAmerican actor and comedian
  • Jeremiah "Jerry" O'ConnellAmerican actor
  • Jerry LewisAmerican comedian, actor, director, singer, and philanthropist
  • Jerry Lee LewisAmerican singer
  • Jerry Fulton CantrellAmerican musician
  • Gerald William "Jerry" TrainorAmerican actor
  • Gerald Norman "Jerry" SpringerBritish,born TV personality, attorney, and former Cincinnati mayor & news anchor
  • Jerry DonohueAmerican theoretical and physical chemist
  • Jerry HsuAmerican pro skateboarder
  • Jerome "Jerry" GarciaAmerican singer of The Grateful Dead
  • Jerry Lamon Falwell Sr.American evangelical Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and conservative political commentator
  • Jerry Lamon Falwell Jr.president of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia
  • Jerry GreenfieldAmerican businessman and philanthropist, cofounder of Ben & Jerry's ice cream
  • Jerry Lee Riceformer American football wide receiver
  • Gerald A. "Jerry" Paulsenfounder of Jerry's Enterprises, Inc.

Jerry in Pop Culture

  • "Jerry Maguire" 1996 American romantic comedy,drama sports film, starring Tom Cruise
  • Jerry Gergichcharacter in Parks and Recreation
  • Intern Jerry Hartmankilled by Station Management in podcast "Welcome to Night Vale"
  • Jerry Shephardfrom the movie "Eight Below"
  • Jerry Smithcharacter in TV series "Rick and Morty"
  • Jerry's Foodsgrocery store operated by Jerry's Enterprises, Inc.
  • Jerry's Famous Delichain of delicatessens originally founded in Studio City, California
  • Jerry Garcia Connerbaby of Dan and Roseanne Conner on TV's "Roseanne"
  • Jerrycharacter in DC Universe
  • Gerald James "Jerry" Lewischaracter from "Totally Spies"
  • Ben & Jerry's ice creamcofounded by businessman Jerry Greenfield