Meaning & Story
Gerald is a Germanic name from 'ger' (spear) and 'wald' (rule) — meaning 'ruler with the spear.' It carries a slightly old-fashioned dignity that has, through decades of gentle comedy, developed a warm, self-aware charm.
Gerald is the name of a pet who seems vaguely aware that their name is a bit much and has decided to embrace it completely. There's a whole genre of comedy in naming an animal Gerald — the slightly formal, very serious name applied to a creature of pure spontaneous joy. It works especially well for a dignified-looking pet who does entirely undignified things with great conviction.