Jerry is a short form of Gerald, a Germanic name made of ger, "spear", and wald, "rule", so "spear ruler", and it also serves as a nickname for Jeremy and Jerome. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld, entertainer Jerry Lewis and the cartoon mouse from Tom and Jerry made it one of the friendliest names of mid-century America. Jerry ranked number 264 in 2000, peaked at number 261 in 2001 and has declined every year since, to number 907 in 2025.