Gereon

Gereon is a traditional male first name of German origin with Greek roots. In German, it translates to 'the older,' 'the oldest,' 'the wise,' and 'the elder.'

What does the name Gereon mean?

Gereon is an ancient German first name of Greek origin. It translates directly into German as 'the older,' 'the oldest,' 'the wise,' and 'the elder.' However, the meaning of the name is not definitively established. It originates from the Ancient Greek word géron (γέρων), which means 'the old man,' 'the elder,' and 'the oldest.' The name became famous through Saint Gereon of Cologne, who served as an officer in the Theban Legion in the late 4th century. According to legend, he refused to participate in the persecution of Christians, which led to his execution. Gereon is considered the patron saint of the people of Cologne and soldiers, which is why the name is particularly common in the Cologne region. In the French spelling, it appears as Géréon. Other variants include Geron, Gerontios, Gerion, and the Rhineland form Jerejon.

Where does the name Gereon come from?

The etymology of Gereon is Ancient Greek and means 'the older.' The Ancient Greek word géron (γέρων) stands for 'the old man,' 'the elder,' and 'the oldest.'

How do you pronounce Gereon?

The pronunciation of Gereon is three syllables and rich in vowels. It is pronounced as 'Ge-re-on' [ɡeˈʁeːɔn], with bright E sounds alternating with an open O. The rolling or guttural R gives the name resonance, while the N rounds it off smoothly. Gereon has a traditional and dignified sound - sonorous, present, and harmonious.

When is the name day of Gereon?

The name day for Gereon is celebrated on October 10.

Popularity

Gereon enjoys great popularity in Germany. The first name currently ranks 2,308th on the list of the most common male first names. Its best placement was in 2010, when it reached 654th place. In the last ten years, Gereon has been used around 230 times as a first name, placing it 1,460th in the ten-year statistics. Between 2010 and 2024, Gereon ranks 1,291st.

Nicknames & pet names

Geo / Gereönchen / Geri / Gero / Gerri / Gerry

Famous people

• Albert Gereon Stein (musician from Germany)
• Gereon Goldmann (Franciscan priest, opponent of the Nazi regime)
• Gereon Krahforst (German church musician and composer)
• Gereon Krebber (German sculptor)
• Gereon Lepper (German sculptor)
• Gereon Rath (criminal commissioner in Berlin in the novels by Volker Kutscher)
• Gereon of Cologne (saint)
• Gereon Wolters (philosopher from Germany)
• Klaus Gereon Beuckers (German art historian)
• Maximilian Gereon Graf von Galen (auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Münster)
• Otto Gereon von Gutmann zu Sobernheim (auxiliary bishop in Cologne)