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Name Lineage

    The first name Gertrude

    A girl’s name meaning “spear”, “strength”, “maiden”.

    Pronounced /ˈɡɝtɹud/ 2 syllables Female

    Meaning and origin

    Gertrude means “spear”, “strength”, “maiden”.

    From Old French [Term?], from Proto-Germanic *gaizaz (“spear”) + *þrūþiz (“strength”) or *trut- (“maiden, dear”) ; name of a Belgian seventh century saint.

    More names that mean love, strong, sword.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    Gertrude last appeared in the official list in 2021, given to 3 girls. It peaked in 2006, with 4 births (#4,157).

    0510 1996200020052010201520202025
    21
    babies named Gertrude, 1996–2025
    #5,581
    rank in 2021
    2006
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Gertrude with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Gertrude at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 17 girls born in the United States were named Gertrude, the 6,632nd most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1917, when 6,300 were.

    03,5007,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    177,668
    babies named Gertrude since 1880
    #6,632
    rank in 2025
    1917
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Gertrude in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    Gertruda
    Czech
    Gertrud
    Danish
    Geertruida
    Dutch, also Gertruida, Gertrude
    Gertrudo
    Esperanto
    Kertu
    Estonian
    Kerttu
    Finnish
    გერტრუდა
    gerṭruda
    Georgian, also გერტრუდი
    Gertrud
    German, also Gertraud, Gertrude
    Gertrúd
    Hungarian
    Geirþrúður
    Icelandic
    Geltrude
    Italian
    Ģertrūde
    Latvian
    Gertrūda
    Lithuanian
    Gjertrud
    Norwegian
    Gertruda
    Polish
    Gertrudes
    Portuguese
    Гертру́да
    Gertrúda
    Russian
    Gertrudis
    Spanish
    Gertrud
    Swedish

    Spelled Gertrude in French too.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Nicknames for Gertrude

    Famous people named Gertrude

    59 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Gertrude B. Elion
      American biochemist and pharmacologist (1918–1999)
    • Gertrude Stein
      American author (1874–1946)
    • Gertrude Bell
      British traveller, writer, mountaineer, politician, archaeologist and spy (1868–1926)
    • Gertrude Ederle
      American swimmer (1905–2003)
    • Gertrude Jekyll
      Garden designer, artist, editor (1843-1932)
    • Gertrude of Nivelles
      Benedictine abbess and saint (626-659)
    • Elizabeth Gertrude Britton
      American botanist (1858-1934)
    • Gertrude of Saxony
      Countess of Holland and Countess of Flanders (1030–1113)
    • Gertrude Käsebier
      American photographer (1852-1934)
    • Gertrude Berg
      American actress, screenwriter (1899-1966)
    • Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney
      American sculptor (1875-1942)
    • Gertrude Atherton
      American author (1857–1948)

    Questions

    What does the name Gertrude mean?
    Gertrude means “spear”, “strength”, “maiden”.
    How popular is the name Gertrude?
    In 2021, 3 girls born in England and Wales were named Gertrude, ranking 5,581st. Its peak was 2006, with 4 births.
    What are nicknames for Gertrude?
    Common nicknames for Gertrude include Gertie, Trudy, Trudie.
    Is Gertrude a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 177,668 US babies named Gertrude since 1880 were girls.
    When was Gertrude most popular?
    1917 in the United States, when 6,300 babies were named Gertrude, its highest rank at 37th.
    How do you pronounce Gertrude?
    Gertrude is /ˈɡɝtɹud/, 2 syllables.