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Gertrude was my step-siblings' very German grandmother, who immigrated here from Fulda. She died a few years ago, in her nineties. Her family all seem to have funny stories about her (apparently this woman could party in her youth), and "Ach!" was a common exclamation of hers.

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I think this is the only image of Gertrude, nickname "Gert," I will ever possess.

there once was a girl bird named gertrude mcfuzz

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That's all I think of besides "old lady name".

I'm sure most people I know would describe it as ugly. I notice a lot of old Germanic feminine names are called ugly, but rated as "strong"...and especially with Gertrude, that makes sense (I mean, the 1st syllable is basically a growl, and the 2nd is like "rude" "protrude" "exude"). It's not a flowy, mellow Romance language sound. Which personally I find appealing.

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It's not on my favorites list currently, but I'd feel comfortable using it. I love Trudy or Tru as a NN. I'm not unfamiliar with being referred to as a Gertie, because one of the high schools I went to was named after St Gertrude; I wouldn't use that as a NN, but I don't feel like it was horrible being called that (it grew on me, actually; it's got character).

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I'd rather be Gertrude than something like Daisy or Cecilia or Peyton.

This message was edited 7/12/2018, 8:26 PM

It's cool, actually. While I personally would not find many natural short forms - that natural limitation allows for a broader margin for difference: which is to say - I would not find a name like Birdie to be a far stretch.

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I really like the nick-name Birdie - and of course, at any spelling.

I adore Gertrude, especially with the nn Gertie. I think it's perfectly usable. It's just a bit offbeat.

I adore Gertrude and would totally use it on a child. It's hearty, earthy, and richly substantial.

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Trudy could definitely make it more wearable and palatable to (inevitable) naysayers. I also love Gertie, Gert, and Tru / True as nicknames.

It's one of those names I find unattractive but really interesting, partly because it had such a long history of use here, and partly because the 'gurt' sound is so grim to my ears that I'm a bit baffled by its historic popularity. Yet clearly some people still like it enough to use it! And it has a great meaning. The Finnish form Kerttu still seems to be something parents like: to me that's a prettier sound.

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A common nickname for Gertrude in the 16th-18th centuries here was Gatty, which was so popular it turned into a matronymic surname. I quite like Trudy: I could see that getting some use, maybe, but I'd be very surprised if Gertrude has a comeback.

I like Gertrude. It's ugly, but it's ugly in a charming way. Kind of like an old hat in your grandmother's closet.

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I would never use the name myself, but I admire the chutzpah of people who do. I like Gertie more than Trudy, but I also like Tru/True as a nickname. Why not?

It's alright, it's usable. It's still a normal name and I wouldn't really blink at it.
Aesthetically though, I feel like it's ugly. I don't like the sounds in it.
It's kind of a neat old name, along the same lines as Matilda or Adelaide or Millicent.
But the sound is like Bertha ... if we said BEHR-ta it'd be nice, but birth-uh doesn't sound very nice, and grrtrood doesn't sound very nice. A name that should have been modernized along with English. Kertruda, even Ketruda.
Trudy is doable but it's like Judy or Debbie, has an outmoded mediocre feeling at this time.

This message was edited 7/12/2018, 10:18 AM

Gertrude is one of the truly ugly female names out there along with Hortense and Brunhilda. It's beyond redemption, imo. ;-) I recall years ago when Wesley Clark was running for US President and I discovered that his wife is named Gertrude "Gert" Clark. Wow, I couldn't get over how very abrupt and harsh sounding that combo is.

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While Trudy isn't awful, I don't think Gertrude will ever be usable, lol.

This message was edited 7/12/2018, 10:18 AM

I think it's an awful name, even for a very old lady. There's a reason it died out generations ago and never came back. A very good reason.
Gertie or Gert could be cute for a dog or cat, I guess. But on a person it's just gross.