Gertrude

I used to think this was one of the most ugliest names ever! I thought it sounded totally grating, being overly harsh to my ears. However, I've had a change of heart for almost a year now; Gertrude is so pretty and classy! What I hated most about the name is what I love now...it sounds so powerful and strong. Despite also being strong-sounding, it has a certain gentleness to it (like a "tough love," which is super positive to me. Due to this, I also view it as kind of romantic-sounding). Not to mention, it's highly uncommon nowadays! I bet a modern woman could wear this name with ease; I see it as a badass name. Gertrude's of the world, you rock. If you're considering Gertrude, I say to go for it!

As a theater kid, all I think of is Gertrude McFuzz (especially pulling her tail off in the Suessical play 😅).

Ugly ahh name if u have it ur automatically a bitter old woman.

I’m sorry, but this is one of the harshest names I can think of, including female and male. And no, it’s not because of any misogynistic belief or anything like that. You want a female name with a strong meaning? Go with something like Bridget or Charlotte. “Gertrude” just rolls off the tongue terribly. The “rude” part stands out way too much, and “gert” is just as bad; sounding like an onomatopoeia for a bowel movement. It also just seems like what you would call a cow or some other farm animal. I wouldn’t wish this on anybody.

The nickname “Gert” is extremely unpleasant. Reminds me of the medical condition GERD.

I think Gertrude is an okay name. It's old fashioned, and I wouldn't name my daughter Gertrude, but Trudy and Tru are pretty cute nicknames.

While I would not really name a child this, I love this name, actually. I love how the meaning contrasts with its association to older, frail women, and it makes me think of a badass 80yo lady. Amazing name for a fictional character.

It’s alright. I think that both girls and old ladies can bear this name.

It looks like an old lady name to me.

I think the main reason people don't like this name is because they have a misogynistic belief, though perhaps not consciously, that women should only be soft and gentle and the name doesn't fit that. Well, women can be strong and tough and this name fits that. It is a good name and I am proud to have it on my list to use someday.

Thank you @lizanna86

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And to everyone who says they won't name their child Gertrude because it's unpopular, go ahead and name your child Emma or Bella, they'll be the 5th in their class... how original.

I love classical names, and I'm a fan of bringing old names back, but this is one name that I would not be willing to bring back in the form of my own child. It's not pleasant sounding at all. "Trudy" as a nickname is cute enough, but there are better nicknames attached to better names that are not Gertrude. To me, Hildegard is on a similar level aesthetically, but I would use Hildegard before I would use Gertrude, at least, because of the saint reference (H von Bingen). Gertrude to me is just plain old lady sounding. Hard to bring back.

This name is a lovely name, and means "spear" and "strength"
Please, don't hate on a name, it's not ugly, and it's an AMAZING name!

Can only imagine a chicken or a 90 year old woman with dementia who mumbles to herself all day.

Awful name.

One day this name might become popular again.

I don't see the appeal! However, Gertrudes is a million times worse!

Amazing, powerful meaning!

Horrible name.

This name sounds horrible. Ugliest name of all time.

Hate the sound, love the meaning.

Really beautiful meaning, love this.

Great, strong name! While it is not anymore popular for many decades, it is actually such a good quality name with a lot of class. Beautiful!

Ugly and it sounds like an old hag.

I hate this name. Also, the other SaltyLemon isn't me. Hello :) nice username.

To be honest I can imagine a baby with any name, be it Gertrude, Mildred, Ermentrude, it's not that hard for me since every Gertrude was once a baby, or maybe I can imagine Gertrude on a five year old because I met my good friend, Gertrude, when she was five. Of course names come and go so you may only think of a grandma when Helen comes up, because Helen was only popular in the past, so since there isn't any new babies being named Helen the babies that were named Helen became older and older until they became grandmothers, and so Helen became "a grandma name". So I guess in 70 years or so it's gonna be hard for people to imagine "Olivia" or "Sophia" on a five year old because by then Olivia and Sophia will mostly comprise of old folks, just like Gertrude right now. I like Gertrude, it's okay if you hate it because it's your opinion. :) But if you leave a hate comment on any name, have the guts to say it! Don't be an anonymous coward.

I just had to came back and say how much I dislike this name. Honestly this "name" should stay in 1900 it sounds old- fashioned and pompous. I'm not saying I like trendy names like (Kaylee, Ashleigh, etc) I actually hate those names. But please use a name that's APPROPRIATE for a young girl today! Honestly who can imagine a 5 year old called "Gertrude"?

Gertrude was the name of one of my best friends, she was fun to hang around with. I don't really dislike any names except for Gladys. I think Gertrude is a very nice name, it's really rare because people heavily associate it with an old lady and think it's awful, I don't. I associate Gertrude with an energetic friend who's reliable. When I was a child I associated Hannah with an old lady because many people I knew had grandmothers named Hannah, I myself had a great great great grandmother named Hannah, now Hannah is a very popular name, and I hope Gertrude will become popular again like Hannah, Alice, and Hazel. I feel like a baby named Gertrude will for sure get teased because many people stated on this site that they hate Gertrude, which is unfortunate because Gertrude is one fine name. Overall I like Gertrude, thanks for reading :)

This name is over-hated. It's a lovely name! Very old-fashioned, yes, but so are names like Mary, Alice, Victoria, and other such "beautiful" names. Gertrude is the perfect blend of a comedic-sounding name and a sophisticated retro name. Gertrude is funny sounding on its own, with its rather unusual spelling and pronunciation, but it has good nickname potential like Gertie, Trudy, or Dede. It's also very sophisticated, giving images of glamour and class. It's very pretty in a sense of being retro, in the veins of names like Agnes and Loretta. Old-fashioned doesn't always mean ugly! Yeah, it's not the most "femme" name to give a daughter, but a name doesn't have to be feminine to be a good name for your daughter. Yeah, some people might say it's more fitting for a grandma than a little girl, but all grandmas were once little girls themselves! I say if you're looking for a unique but old-fashioned name for your daughter, I say Gertrude isn't half bad a pick!

This is an absolutely beautiful name, and it is tragic that it is scarce used. I agree with YourClairyGodmother: This is a lovely name which deserves none of the disdain that it receives.

Oh come on! We all know what you're all thinking:

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THIS NAME IS HIDEOUS!

This name is hideous. Just like the commenter below said. Also anyone who prefers Gertrude over Ella is crazy.

Huh, a lot of negative comments on this name.
I always thought this sounded cute and lovely, and I like Gertie or Tru as nicknames.

I cannot get past the association with Gertrude Baniszewski.

Really ugly.

Truly a hideous name, not just because it sounds dated. The -trude ending is a big part of what makes it so unappealing. It's funny that this name is being defended so strongly here in the comments, yet it rarely if ever appears in the polls and it has seldom been given to children since the 70s. I wonder who would actually name their kid Gertrude.

Ugly.

My Grandma's first name was Gertrude, and my parents considered giving me the middle name Gertrude. They decided to use her middle name instead, and I am ever so grateful this isn't my middle name. That would be extremely embarrassing.

I hate this name. It seems stiff, drippy, ugly, awkward, prissy, stuck-up and over-old-fashioned to me. I don’t think it’s too bad with the nickname ‘Gertie’ though, and it’s rather nice with the nickname ‘Trudy’. A lot of people seem to share my opinion of this name. Its wonderful meaning is a total waste on a name like Gertrude. A lot of characters in classic literature have this name, so I’m under the impression that it was more common in the olden days than it is now. This is one of my absolute least favourite names in the world. It’s just, well, ugh!

It does sound a little ugly but it’s pretty old fashioned.

Gertrude sounds ugly and awkward, as well as old-ladyish. This name is not just a "no," it's a "hell no!"

Nice origin and meaning, don’t like the name though.

Wonderful meaning... that's all.

I can see why this name might be mainly ugly to the public. Because the rate for the name being bad is not really that low! A perfect amount of people disliked this name for every rude comment about Gertrude. People think this name is hideous just because of nicknames that may sound like vomiting. Personally, I think there is something striking me that this may be an elegant name to have. I’m having a hard time saying this name is ugly (:!

Gertrude “Gert” Yorkers from the Marvel comic/tv series ‘Runaways’ bears this name. She has purple hair, is a feminist, and is telepathically connected to a genetically engineered dinosaur, so she is a great representation of this name. Due to her and other strong women who bear this name, it actually holds the top spot in my favorite name list. I understand why people had an aversion to this name or think it’s too harsh to be feminine, but there are many cute nicknames (my favorite being ‘Gigi’) and even without the nickname, it has a wonderful sound and important meaning.

I honestly don't get what is so bad about this name. It sounds charming and intelligent if you ask me. Not at all prude or elderly, and Gertie is a cute nickname.

I used to hate it but now I think it's unique and very adorable and inviting. It sounds like it has an underlying power but is very cute on the outside.

It’s a hideous, old, harsh grandma name and the Gert is so ugly. Like what one person said in the comments, names don’t have to sound feminine, but this just gets me- ewww!

Why does everyone think it's ugly? How can you say that it sounds like a vomiting noise?! Why the hell would it not be feminine? It may be an ancient name, but I still see it on a little girl and not on an old woman. In my opinion it is a marvelous name. It has a beautiful meaning. I like Gertrud too. They sound like a powerful, royal and proud woman, like a queen. The consonants in them have a strong sound which I really like. However, I dislike Trudy. I prefer Gert as a nickname.

I have no idea what the reasoning is behind "old woman name" complaints; everyone was born sometime. Personally, I can totally see the name on an eight year old girl.

My husband thinks this name is very "country". My first impression is that it isn't very pretty.

Despite its harsh sound, I have always liked the English pronunciation of Gertrude. It has a regal air about it, and Trudy is a nifty little nickname. That said, (in the US, at least) it's very much dated to a certain time period and is therefore considered "matronly." The German pronunciation is much softer and SO lovely. (But come to think of it, everything sounds better in German!)

My birth certificate omitted the first "r", so I was actually called GETRUDE as a first name. I was teased throughout my childhood and I hated it. So in addition to being a victim of racism I had quite THE name. I HATED myself and felt unloved. I proposed to get it removed as soon as I could legally do so. But after learning the meaning I LOVE IT both the dutch and Russian meanings- that's all I want to be called now.

Not a favorite of mine but I adore the shortened name Gertie (Makes me think of Elliot's sister in ET)

All these people saying how unfeminine Gertrude is... as if girls and their names have to be feminine. Definitely no gender role interference here. I think Gertrude, along with Mildred and Olga, is cute and spunky. Names rarely provoke as much teasing as so many commenters seem to think.

I personally hate this name. It's all opinions, so, if you like it, hey. I don't agree, but that doesn't mean anything. To me it sounds like an ill old lady. Maybe nice, I may get that impression, but I DO NOT LIKE IT.

I can honestly imagine a 'Gertrude' and a 'Prudence' as friends. Two of my least favorite names...

I personally love the name Gertrude. It's not my name nor am I old, if you were wondering. I genuinely love this name! I think it's cute. :3.

Potential nicknames for Gertrude: Gertie/Gert, Trudy, Trude, True/Tru, Rue, Gesa/Gesine/Gesina, Gerry/Geri, Gigi.

Err... It's hard to believe it was ever popular.. ever!

I'm sorry, but this is one of the harshest feminine names out there - definitely among the Top 5 Harshest used in Anglophone countries. I've had people tell me that Constance (one of my longtime favorites) has a harsh sound, but she has *nothing* on Gertrude! It's just so... guttural.

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As far as images of the name go? The only Gertrude I know goes by "Gert"... and she's my stepsister and stepbrother's tiny ninety-three-year-old grandmother from Germany. Then again, her real name might actually be Gertraud...

This was about to be my cousins name! I'm so glad my aunt changed it to Ella because I hate this name and I would NEVER name my daughter this, she'll get teased! I'm so happy her name was changed to Ella! This name sounds funny to me.

This is a strong, lovely name. I'm not sure whether I'd be brave enough to use it for my own child, but I can see it as a name for a little girl today.

In Italy Gertrude is the name of one of Cinderella's half-sister, maybe it's for this reason that in our country is so rare!

The funniest name ever.

Wow, so much hate for this name. I expected some dislike for it, but not this much. I think it is a nice classic, but will probably never come back into fashion. I do like the nickname Trudy though.

I really hate this name. It sounds so ugly.

This name reminds me of a parrot.

I don't really like names that begin with the hard "g" sound. It just sounds weird.

One of the top funniest names ever. Sounds granny and old fashioned. There are so many ridiculous names out there and they all give me the same impression: UGLINESS.

Arrghh! This is the worst name you could possibly give your adorable, sweet baby daughter. If I'd been a girl and my parents had called me that, I'd have illegally changed my name. It sounds like a vomiting noise. Like someone else pointed out, the old-fashioned names make comebacks tend to have lots of vowels, and Gertrude has mostly consonants. To any parent considering this name: Its days are LONG over. It's hard to believe that this name was popular enough back in the day to be considered an old lady name now. Just don't. Name your kid Apple instead, I'm serious.

While I wouldn't use it on a person, I wouldn't mind using Gertrude as a name for a character in a story. My friend has a crocheted octopus named Gertrude Bubbles.

This is not my favorite name. I don't really even know why; I just can't stand the way it looks or sounds. I especially dislike the nickname Gertie.

I used to despise this name and I thought it was hideous. But now, it has really grown on me and I find it attractive. I hope society changes its mind like I did.

For some reason, I find myself really liking this name. I don't love it enough to give my daughter this name, but my mum did say that she could picture me with a daughter called Gertrude. I can see why some people don't like the name, and I totally respect that. The meaning is strong and cool as well.

One of my clients had a pug named Gertrude, so this is what I automatically think about when I hear the name... pugs.

A hideous old-woman name. The nickname Gertie only makes it worse. It makes me think of a tall, lanky woman in her seventies with dirty, stringy hair and a bad attitude.

Ewwww, it's seriously ugly! It's a name for a pig not a girl! The 'Gert' in it is so unfeminine and horrible! I feel ill when I hear this name!

I personally love this name and might use it as a middle name for a daughter, if I ever have one. :)

Yes, it's hideous. Makes me think of a squawking bird.

I don't like this. Not nice at all on young girls.

It does sound like an "old lady's name", but I still really like it. I love the meaning, and for some reason the pronunciation doesn't bother me. I think it's alright to use it as a character's name.

As well as being a hideous old lady name, it also has the word rude in it.

This name makes me want to puke it's so ugly.

It's ugly and old-fashioned, but at least it's not Mildred or Bertha.

Gertrude is a HIDEOUS name.

Goddamn, this always reminds me of a cat lady's name. Surprisingly, somebody said a St. Gertrude was a patron saint of cats.

I have to say in comparison to the misused Madison and Kennedy, this name is 'prettier'.

You won't get compliments from me about this name. The name is old-fashioned, of course, but that's not the worst aspect of it. The name just sounds ugly, and the nicknames Gertie and Trudy are bad. Gertie is too childish for a grown-up, and Trudy sounds like Rudy, which is an ugly name as well.

One thing I don't understand is why I don't like this name. It means "spear of strength" (I think spears are cool), and it's the name of Hamlet's mum (Hamlet was a cool play). Those assosiations alone ought to make me think it's cool, but I don't. I agree with everyone who's said they think it's an "old lady name". It IS rather dated, in my opinion.

I actually really like Gertrude. It has a bit of 1920s classy feel to it, and it has, for some I suppose, the connotations of Gertrude Stein. However, I dislike "Trudy."

This is my grandmother's name, Gertrude May (born 1928) and she likes her name and hates nicknames. I don't see why it isn't a perfectly good name for anyone. At least a daughter of today with this name would not be the fifth Jade or Taylor in her class! It was thought a beautiful name before, it could be, again. The "old ladies" who have this name were once cute little girls, and attractive women! In one hundred years people will be saying that Tiffany sounds like an old lady's name. :) It's just a matter of what we're accustomed to hearing.

This is definitely an old lady name, no offense to those Gertrudes out there. I just don't think that a child has to be punished with this name. Again, no offense. This name was mostly used in the early 1900s and should stay that way. Face it : Gertrude is no longer in style, if it ever was. So please; don't burden your precious little girl with this name. She deserves better.

Well, I personally would never in a million years name my child Gertrude, though I do think the nickname "Gertie" is adorable.

I love the meaning, but I personally don't like the way the name sounds. I can understand why someone would want this name for their daughter, though. There's so much history behind it.

Ugh! I can't stand that name! I always think of it as a name to use for an unlikeable character in a story, and it seems comical as well because it sounds so old fashioned and ugly. Sorry but it's my least favourite name and if my parents called me that I would never forgive them.

I personally love the name Gertrude and I'm hoping that in fifteen or so years it won't be considered such an "old lady" name. However, I would still use it if it is considered such, and as the previous poster said, use the nickname Trudy.

I personally love the name Gertrude and I'm hoping that in fifteen or so years it won't be considered such an "old lady" name. However, I would still use it if it is considered such, and as the previous poster said, use the nickname Trudy.

And "old lady name", maybe, but these older women started out as little girls, did they not? And I think that it has a pretty ring to it, although it is not the nicest name.

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And shouldn't it be pronounced "GER-trood" or "GER-trood-a" instead of "GUR-trood"? Why do we English speakers slur our vowels so often?

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And if you don't like this name for a little girl, use the pet name "Trudy". That way it's not quite so bad.

Awful name, I'm sorry! Lovely meaning, but awful sound.

No offence to any Gertrudes, but I don't like this name. It would be a ridiculous thing to call a child, not recommended.

I guess it could be nice, but so many people think of it as an old lady name, it just gives out that impression. It's not particularly pretty though.

This is such a strong, queenly and charming name. I love Gertrude but I like Gertrudis more.

Sounds like an ancient grandmother to me. Not a very nice name for a child!

It's actually nice but most people think of it as an ugly "old lady name". I personally like it but I do NOT recommend it because your child might be teased.

My only reason for disliking this name is that it reminds me of Hamlet, a play which you could say I dislike, but I agree that parents should not be put of by its 'ugly' reputation.

My grandmother Gertrude saved many lives during WWII by participating in the Dutch underground. Our daughter's middle name is Gertrude in honour of my grandmother who I never met. My daughter, now 8, loves the meaning of her name.