Gehrig

A boy's name of German origin with 698 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

A surname from German.

Gehrig is a boy's baby name of German origin, transferred from the surname — most famously borne by Lou Gehrig (1903–1941), the New York Yankees first baseman known as 'The Iron Horse,' whose career batting average of .340 and consecutive games streak stood as monuments of American sports history before his career ended due to ALS.

Lou Gehrig's legacy is so powerful that his farewell speech — 'Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth' — remains one of the most moving moments in American sports history. Parents who name a son Gehrig are paying homage to an enduring symbol of grace, resilience, and excellence.

EtymologyShow more

Phonetically, Gehrig belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their sharp, distinct ending — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. At two syllables, it has a two-beat rhythm that is easy to call across a room and natural in conversation.

Within the German naming tradition, names with similar sound structures often share underlying etymological patterns. Exploring German names on this site may surface connections that illuminate Gehrig’s linguistic neighborhood.

At a Glance

698

Total births

Since 1944

2003

Peak

43 births

1944

First recorded

79 years of data

Compare Gehrig with another name

Popularity Over Time

Gehrig has 35+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1944.

First appeared: 1944Peak: 2003 (43 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Gehrig
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	22	#7331	▼
2010s	198	#5273	▼
2000s	324	#3164	▲
1990s	128	#5127	▲
1980s	5	#6615	▼
1950s	16	#3810	▲
1940s	5	#3605	—

The Story of Gehrig

A Gen Z name

Peaking in 2003, Gehrig is a name that defines a generation. Boys named Gehrig are most likely born between 1993 and 2013.

How rare is Gehrig?

With 698 total births on record, Gehrig remains a rare and distinctive pick.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1944, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2000s with 324 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Gehrig by the numbers

Would fill 15 school buses
Meeting one Gehrig per day would take 1.9 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(35 years, 1944–2022)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Gehrig
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2022	12	#6959	+2 (20.0%)
2020	10	#7703	0
2019	10	#7825	+1 (11.1%)
2018	9	#8381	-9 (-50.0%)
2017	18	#5161	+5 (38.5%)
2016	13	#6467	-9 (-40.9%)
2015	22	#4442	+4 (22.2%)
2014	18	#5122	-11 (-37.9%)
2013	29	#3609	+1 (3.6%)
2012	28	#3740	+1 (3.7%)
2011	27	#3827	+3 (12.5%)
2010	24	#4152	-10 (-29.4%)
2009	34	#3287	+8 (30.8%)
2008	26	#3971	-1 (-3.7%)
2007	27	#3821	-9 (-25.0%)
2006	36	#3046	+2 (5.9%)
2005	34	#3039	-3 (-8.1%)
2004	37	#2803	-6 (-14.0%)
2003	43	#2445	+12 (38.7%)
2002	31	#2965	+2 (6.9%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gehrig a boy's or girl's name?

Gehrig is primarily a boy's name.

When was Gehrig most popular?

Gehrig reached its peak popularity in 2003 with 43 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Gehrig?

Gehrig is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 698 babies in the U.S. since 1944. Its peak was in 2003.

Explore More

By Length6-letter names By OriginGerman names By EndingNames in -g TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1944–2022