NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Gerson

A German diminutive variant of Gerard, meaning "brave spear".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Gerson is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Gerson popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4647, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 3 births.

This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2011 to 2011. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

Gerson is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Gerson. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2012 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Gerson ranked #4647 for boys in England and Wales in 2011, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2011, when 3 boys were registered as Gerson.
  • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Gerson as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4647

2011

Births in 2011

3

Latest year

Peak year

2011

3 births

Estimated living

3

2026

Meaning

What does Gerson mean?

The name Gerson is a Germanic name with origins dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old German word "ger," meaning spear, and "sun," meaning son or warrior, effectively translating to "son of the spear" or "spearman."

This name's earliest known references can be found in medieval records and documents from regions like present-day Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It was a popular name among the nobility and warrior class during the Middle Ages, reflecting its martial connotations.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was Gerson of Rheims, a French scholar, theologian, and philosopher who lived from 1363 to 1429. He played a significant role in the resolution of the Western Schism, a period of ecclesiastical division within the Catholic Church.

Another notable figure was Gerson Blumental, a German Protestant theologian born in 1519. He was a prominent figure in the Protestant Reformation and an influential writer on religious matters during the 16th century.

In the realm of literature, Gerson da Cunha was a renowned Indian author and journalist who lived from 1900 to 1976. He made significant contributions to Marathi literature and was honored with several prestigious awards.

The name also found its way into the world of sports, with Gerson de Oliveira Nunes, a Brazilian footballer born in 1942. He was a part of the legendary Brazilian team that won the 1970 FIFA World Cup and is considered one of the greatest midfielders in the history of the sport.

Another individual of note was Gerson Goldhagen, a Polish-born American composer and music educator who lived from 1924 to 2001. He made significant contributions to the field of music theory and composition, and his works were performed by renowned orchestras and ensembles.

While the name Gerson may not be as common today as it once was, its historical significance and rich heritage have ensured its place in the annals of various cultures and disciplines throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Gerson by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Gerson was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2010s #4647 3 1

Related

Names similar to Gerson

FAQ

Gerson: questions and answers

How popular is the name Gerson in the UK right now?

In 2011, Gerson was ranked #4647 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Gerson most popular?

The peak year on record was 2011, with 3 babies registered as Gerson in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Gerson?

A German diminutive variant of Gerard, meaning "brave spear".

How many people are called Gerson in the UK?

A total of 3 babies have been registered as Gerson across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.