Jerry
JER-ee
A familiar short form of Jeremiah, meaning “exalted of the Lord” in the tradition reflected by the old name books.
Meaning
In the excerpted 19th-century name books, Jerry is treated as a nickname or corrupted form of Jeremiah. The Hebrew name behind Jeremiah is explained there as meaning “exalted of the Lord” or similarly “elevated of the Lord.” In English use, Jerry became a familiar independent given name as well as a diminutive.
Origin
HebrewEnglishvaries by culture
Fun fact
One source notes that Jerry was especially frequent among families with Irish connection, because Jeremy was sometimes treated as an equivalent of the Gaelic Diarmaid.
Confidence: mixed. Sources: History of Christian Names, Praenomina; or, the etymology of the principal Christian names of Great Britain and Ireland.