I love both.
Trudy has a let's-get-into-trouble vibe that I love. She's that outgoing best friend that always cheers you up even when you don't want to. She's loyal and true blue. I prefer her as a nn for
Gertrude. I've never heard of Truda before, but it's nice. But
Trudy can stand on her own just fine too.
Valerie was almost my name, until my father vetoed it at the last minute. So I have a fondness for it. It makes me think of jewelry, a dark amethyst purple.