Gertrude Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: GUR-trood //ˈɡɜːr.truːd//
Origin: German; Dutch
Meaning: German: spear strength; Dutch: strength of a spear
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Gertrude has its roots in the Old High German name "Geretrudis," which is composed of the elements "geri" meaning "spear" and "thrud" meaning "strength" or "force." This name was adapted into Latin as "Gertrudis" and subsequently made its way into various forms in the Romance languages. The transition into English occurred through the influence of Norman French after the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, where it was rendered as "Gertrude." The name has been used in various forms across Europe, reflecting its Germanic origins and the linguistic shifts that occurred over centuries.
Historically, Gertrude has been borne by several notable figures, including Saint Gertrude of Nivelles, a 7th-century abbess in what is now Belgium, who became a prominent figure in Christian hagiography. Her feast day is celebrated on March 17, and she is often invoked for protection against rats and mice, which has contributed to the name's enduring presence in Christian contexts.
Additionally, the name appears in various medieval texts and was popularized in literature, notably in the works of Shakespeare, where it appears in "Hamlet" as the name of the queen, Gertrude, mother of Prince Hamlet. Culturally, Gertrude has been associated with strength and resilience, reflecting its etymological roots.
The name has also been linked to various traditions and folklore, particularly in German-speaking regions, where it has been celebrated in songs and stories. The diminutive form "Trudy" emerged as a familiar variant, further embedding the name in cultural contexts.
Overall, Gertrude's historical significance and linguistic evolution illustrate its deep roots in European history and culture.
Famous people named Gertrude
In this section, you will find notable people named Gertrude. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Gertrude who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Gertrude who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Gertrude Stein was an author and art collector best known for Three Lives, Tender Buttons, and The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas.
Gertrude Bell was a writer and archaeologist best known for her explorations in the Middle East and her role in the establishment of modern Iraq.
Fictional characters named Gertrude
The following list of fictional characters named Gertrude is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Gertrude is a fictional character from William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. She is the Queen of Denmark and the mother of the protagonist, Hamlet, playing a crucial role in the unfolding tragedy.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Gertrude, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Gertrude. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Gertrude was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Gertrude has ranked as high as #63 nationally, which occurred in 1917, and has been most popular in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Michigan.
In the past 5 years the name Gertrude has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Gertrude is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Gertrude was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Gertrude (2020)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Gertrude.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 29 |
| 2023 | 31 |
| 2022 | 32 |
| 2021 | 30 |
| 2020 | 32 |
| 2019 | 34 |
| 2018 | 25 |
| 2017 | 26 |
| 2016 | 36 |
| 2015 | 26 |
| 2014 | 20 |
| 2013 | 18 |
| 2012 | 17 |
| 2011 | 17 |
| 2010 | 17 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2007 | 18 |
| 2006 | 15 |
| 2005 | 14 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2000 | 17 |
| 1999 | 13 |
| 1998 | 5 |
| 1997 | 7 |
| 1996 | 15 |
| 1995 | 9 |
| 1994 | 13 |
| 1993 | 8 |
| 1992 | 9 |
| 1991 | 14 |
| 1990 | 9 |
| 1989 | 17 |
| 1988 | 22 |
| 1987 | 11 |
| 1986 | 13 |
| 1985 | 14 |
| 1984 | 16 |
| 1983 | 21 |
| 1982 | 24 |
| 1981 | 22 |
| 1980 | 28 |
| 1979 | 19 |
| 1978 | 19 |
| 1977 | 20 |
| 1976 | 21 |
| 1975 | 43 |
| 1974 | 39 |
| 1973 | 55 |
| 1972 | 55 |
| 1971 | 55 |
| 1970 | 54 |
| 1969 | 53 |
| 1968 | 58 |
| 1967 | 71 |
| 1966 | 98 |
| 1965 | 112 |
| 1964 | 153 |
| 1963 | 169 |
| 1962 | 152 |
| 1961 | 173 |
| 1960 | 211 |
| 1959 | 220 |
| 1958 | 243 |
| 1957 | 300 |
| 1956 | 340 |
| 1955 | 371 |
| 1954 | 393 |
| 1953 | 422 |
| 1952 | 476 |
| 1951 | 558 |
| 1950 | 613 |
| 1949 | 657 |
| 1948 | 651 |
| 1947 | 702 |
| 1946 | 639 |
| 1945 | 664 |
| 1944 | 813 |
| 1943 | 867 |
| 1942 | 932 |
| 1941 | 997 |
| 1940 | 1,014 |
| 1939 | 1,092 |
| 1938 | 1,167 |
| 1937 | 1,319 |
| 1936 | 1,316 |
| 1935 | 1,425 |
| 1934 | 1,582 |
| 1933 | 1,619 |
| 1932 | 1,968 |
| 1931 | 2,094 |
| 1930 | 2,555 |
| 1929 | 2,725 |
| 1928 | 3,011 |
| 1927 | 3,508 |
| 1926 | 3,852 |
| 1925 | 3,892 |
| 1924 | 4,543 |
| 1923 | 4,700 |
| 1922 | 5,082 |
| 1921 | 5,349 |
| 1920 | 5,797 |
| 1919 | 6,014 |
| 1918 | 6,264 |
| 1917 | 6,300 |
| 1916 | 6,243 |
| 1915 | 6,077 |
| 1914 | 4,938 |
| 1913 | 4,015 |
| 1912 | 3,887 |
| 1911 | 2,895 |
| 1910 | 2,932 |
| 1909 | 2,622 |
| 1908 | 2,562 |
| 1907 | 2,499 |
| 1906 | 2,375 |
| 1905 | 2,276 |
| 1904 | 2,269 |
| 1903 | 2,253 |
| 1902 | 2,207 |
| 1901 | 1,964 |
| 1900 | 2,580 |
| 1899 | 2,110 |
| 1898 | 2,302 |
| 1897 | 2,135 |
| 1896 | 2,221 |
| 1895 | 2,129 |
| 1894 | 1,908 |
| 1893 | 1,811 |
| 1892 | 1,924 |
| 1891 | 1,645 |
| 1890 | 1,713 |
| 1889 | 1,543 |
| 1888 | 1,468 |
| 1887 | 1,251 |
| 1886 | 1,249 |
| 1885 | 1,086 |
| 1884 | 1,063 |
| 1883 | 923 |
| 1882 | 939 |
| 1881 | 791 |
| 1880 | 787 |