Gertrude is a name of German origin, derived from the elements "ger" meaning "spear" and "trud" meaning "strength". It has been used historically in various forms across different cultures and time periods.
The most well-known historical figure named Gertrude was Saint Gertrude the Great (also known as Gertrude of Nivelles), who lived in the 7th century. She was a nun, abbess, and saint from what is now Belgium. After her death, many miracles were attributed to her intercession, which contributed to her canonization.
The name Gertrude gained popularity during the Middle Ages, especially among royalty. In England, several members of the royal family bore this name, including Queen Gertrude of Scotland (who was also known as Maid of Norway), and Queen Gertrude of England, wife of King Henry II.
In literature, Gertrude is also notably used by William Shakespeare in his play "Hamlet". The character Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, is portrayed as the Queen of Denmark. Despite this portrayal, the name Gertrude has not been associated with negativity or villainy, and remains a popular choice among parents today.
Overall, Gertrude is an uncommon yet historic and culturally significant name that carries a strong meaning and an interesting background.
The name Gertrude has had a varying popularity over the years in the United States. Between 1911 and 1954, there were a total of 127 babies named Gertrude. The peak years for this name were 1926 with 13 births and 1954 with 7 births. Interestingly, there was no recorded birth of a Gertrude in the United States between 1930 and 1934, as well as from 1940 to 1953. This statistical data shows that while the name Gertrude was once popular, it has since fallen out of favor over time.