Gerris earned its name from the Gerris lacustris, commonly known as the common pond skater or common water strider. The name was chosen by Chris Abraham, founder of Gerris digital, because he was inspired by the lightness of being exhibited by the pond skaters he sculled with in Washington as they skim along weightless on water tension, never breaking through the Potomac's meniscus.

And, in honor of the company being named after a small insect's Genus, we have also named the company Gerris digital, with the second name, digital, the species, being lower-case. Such as Gerris search, Gerris outreach, Gerris engagement, Gerris social, and its parent company, Gerris corp.