Names That Mean Spear

An old-fashioned Slovene nickname for Gertruda — the Jerca variation is considered more stylish.

The alternate spelling of Gera that led to Jerca, which currently ranks in the Slovene Top 100.

Somewhat reminiscent of the better known Beccan, this is an Irish saints' name – there were no fewer than five St. Bercans, as well as a noted manuscript artist called Bercanus. In Ireland, it is sometime shortened to Barry.

This is most familiar here as a musical name, via Indian Parsi conductor Zubin Mehta, but it certainly could be used by others.

This weighty ancient name could be the perfect fits-in-stands-out choice for fans the increasingly fashionable group of girls' names that both start and end in A.

Predominantly male choice that nevertheless has a pretty sound and fashionable unisex feel.

Gearóidín is familiar to our Irish members, but is probably unseen outside the Emerald Isle. It would provide some steep challengers to people unfamiliar with Irish names, but since that hasn't stopped Saoirse, Niamh and Aoife, there's no reason to not pick this if it steals your heart. Some famous bearers of the name include Gearóidín Breathnach (Irish singer).

This was a common name in early Ireland, borne by numerous saints, but pronunciation problems would make it prohibitive here.

Medgar Evers was a civil rights activist and the NAACP's first field secretary in Mississippi in 1943. Both his bold first name or softer surname would make meaningful choices.

Probably related to Gilbert, from the same Germanic root: gisil, meaning "pledge" or "hostage". The Gis- syllable may also derive from Celtic gaiso "spear".

Dutch form of Gisbert

The form of Gertrude found in German and much of Scandinavia.

Gearóidín is familiar to our Irish members, but is probably unseen outside the Emerald Isle. It would provide some steep challengers to people unfamiliar with Irish names, but since that hasn't stopped Saoirse, Niamh and Aoife, there's no reason to not pick this if it steals your heart. Some famous bearers of the name include Gearóidín Breathnach (Irish singer).

Jerca ultimately was derived from Gertruda, the Polish and Czech form of Gertrude. Jerca is currently in the Slovene Top 100.

The -ie spelling of Gerry or Geri feels slightly lighter and fresher, but long form Geraldine is still stuck in style limbo.

Peaked in the Czech Republic in 1939.

The K spelling of this name relates most directly to the spritelike creatures of Breton folklore, often female, who have beautiful hair and red eyes. Korrik is the Cornish word for gnome.