Fun Facts About the Name Geronimo
- More than 3 thousand babies named Geronimo: U.S. records list 3,084 babies given the name Geronimo from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Geronimo Mean?
Geronimo is a masculine given name, chiefly Italian, with the Spanish equivalent Jerónimo and the variant Gerónimo. It means "sacred name" or "holy name." The name comes from Latin Hieronymus, from Greek Hieronymos, a compound of hieros, "sacred" or "holy," and onoma, "name." The same Greek name is the source of English Jerome. The spelling Geronimo without an accent is the Italian form, also used in English.
Geronimo Name History & Origins
The Greek name Hieronymos passed into Latin as Hieronymus. Its best-known bearer is Saint Jerome, the fourth- and fifth-century Christian scholar who produced the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible. Because Jerome was widely venerated in western Europe, the name took local forms in many languages: Italian Girolamo and Geronimo, Spanish Jerónimo, and Portuguese Jerônimo. In Catholic regions, these forms were used as baptismal names in honor of the saint.
In the Spanish-speaking world, Jerónimo was common, and the variant Gerónimo also appeared. The Apache leader Goyahkla (also written Goyaałé) became known as Geronimo in the nineteenth century. Traditional accounts say Mexican soldiers gave him the name, possibly invoking Saint Jerome (Jerónimo) during conflict, but the exact reason is not documented with certainty. English speakers came to know him as Geronimo, and the name is now often recognized in English through that association.
The exclamation "Geronimo!" is associated with U.S. airborne troops, who reportedly began shouting it while jumping from aircraft in the 1940s. This military custom is a modern English-language use and is separate from the older Italian and Spanish history of the given name.
How Popular is the Name Geronimo?
Geronimo has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2009. Its best rank was #1,138 in 1907.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,541 | 32 | 0.0019% |
| 2024 | #3,401 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 2023 | #3,648 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 2022 | #3,295 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 2021 | #2,879 | 43 | 0.0025% |
| 2020 | #2,898 | 41 | 0.0024% |
| 2019 | #2,602 | 50 | 0.0028% |
| 2018 | #3,400 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 2017 | #3,028 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 2016 | #2,565 | 49 | 0.0026% |
| 2015 | #2,654 | 46 | 0.0024% |
| 2014 | #3,401 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 2013 | #2,908 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 2012 | #2,368 | 54 | 0.0028% |
| 2011 | #2,962 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 2010 | #3,746 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 2009 | #2,361 | 55 | 0.0028% |
| 2008 | #2,760 | 44 | 0.0022% |
| 2007 | #2,734 | 44 | 0.0021% |
| 2006 | #2,758 | 42 | 0.0020% |
| 2005 | #2,252 | 53 | 0.0027% |
| 2004 | #2,969 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 2003 | #2,873 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 2002 | #2,440 | 41 | 0.0021% |
| 2001 | #2,192 | 47 | 0.0024% |
| 2000 | #2,232 | 44 | 0.0022% |
| 1999 | #2,277 | 40 | 0.0021% |
| 1998 | #2,109 | 44 | 0.0023% |
| 1997 | #2,109 | 42 | 0.0022% |
| 1996 | #2,196 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 1995 | #1,932 | 44 | 0.0023% |
| 1994 | #2,194 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 1993 | #3,551 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1992 | #2,270 | 33 | 0.0017% |
| 1991 | #2,068 | 36 | 0.0018% |
| 1990 | #2,138 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 1989 | #2,820 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1988 | #2,163 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 1987 | #2,081 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1986 | #2,118 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1985 | #2,037 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1984 | #1,906 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1983 | #2,111 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1982 | #1,447 | 44 | 0.0024% |
| 1981 | #1,507 | 41 | 0.0023% |
| 1980 | #1,603 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 1979 | #1,499 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 1978 | #1,629 | 34 | 0.0021% |
| 1977 | #1,433 | 41 | 0.0025% |
| 1976 | #1,514 | 36 | 0.0023% |
| 1975 | #1,485 | 36 | 0.0023% |
| 1974 | #1,525 | 33 | 0.0021% |
| 1973 | #1,561 | 31 | 0.0020% |
| 1972 | #1,545 | 31 | 0.0019% |
| 1971 | #1,504 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 1970 | #1,673 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1969 | #1,659 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1968 | #1,557 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1967 | #1,993 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1966 | #1,842 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1965 | #1,743 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1964 | #2,004 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1963 | #2,069 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1962 | #1,598 | 25 | 0.0012% |
| 1961 | #1,502 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1960 | #1,601 | 26 | 0.0012% |
| 1959 | #1,640 | 24 | 0.0011% |
| 1958 | #1,699 | 22 | 0.0010% |
| 1957 | #1,913 | 18 | 0.0008% |
| 1956 | #1,740 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1955 | #1,994 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1954 | #1,726 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1953 | #1,531 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1952 | #1,640 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1951 | #1,746 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1950 | #1,584 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1949 | #1,782 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1948 | #1,531 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1947 | #1,710 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1946 | #2,327 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1945 | #1,810 | 15 | 0.0011% |
| 1944 | #1,413 | 23 | 0.0017% |
| 1943 | #2,017 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1942 | #2,437 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1941 | #1,786 | 16 | 0.0013% |
| 1940 | #2,555 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1939 | #2,214 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1938 | #1,925 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1937 | #1,942 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1936 | #1,672 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1935 | #2,441 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1934 | #2,460 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1933 | #3,423 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1932 | #1,608 | 20 | 0.0019% |
| 1931 | #2,034 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1930 | #2,223 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1929 | #1,580 | 22 | 0.0020% |
| 1928 | #1,464 | 26 | 0.0023% |
| 1927 | #1,905 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1926 | #1,859 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1925 | #1,654 | 22 | 0.0020% |
| 1924 | #1,646 | 23 | 0.0020% |
| 1923 | #1,662 | 22 | 0.0020% |
| 1922 | #1,916 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1921 | #2,186 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1920 | #2,847 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1919 | #1,775 | 19 | 0.0019% |
| 1917 | #3,716 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1916 | #3,649 | 6 | 0.0007% |
| 1915 | #2,515 | 10 | 0.0012% |
| 1914 | #2,336 | 9 | 0.0014% |
| 1913 | #1,394 | 15 | 0.0029% |
| 1912 | #1,947 | 8 | 0.0019% |
| 1911 | #1,615 | 6 | 0.0027% |
| 1907 | #1,138 | 7 | 0.0048% |
| 1906 | #1,312 | 5 | 0.0038% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Geronimo Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are introspective, prophetic, philosophical, and soul searching, but also can be analytical, critical and opinionated. You think deeply and clearly, have an air of mystery, can be solitary and secretive. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Geronimo's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Geronimo's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.