Gertrude
From Old French [Term?], from Proto-Germanic *gaizaz (“spear”) + *þrūþiz (“strength”) or *trut- (“maiden, dear”) ; name of a Belgian seventh century saint.
Every Gertrude since 1880 — 177,668 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Gertrude
Gertrude is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #6,632 in 2025 with 17 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 177,668 American babies have been named Gertrude. Its peak came in 1917, when 6,315 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1910s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Gertrude stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Gertrude year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | #6,632 | — | — |
| 2024 | 29 | #4,700 | — | — |
| 2023 | 31 | #4,495 | — | — |
| 2022 | 32 | #4,407 | — | — |
| 2021 | 30 | #4,545 | — | — |
| 2020 | 32 | #4,293 | — | — |
| 2019 | 34 | #4,198 | — | — |
| 2018 | 25 | #5,216 | — | — |
| 2017 | 26 | #5,098 | — | — |
| 2016 | 36 | #4,117 | — | — |
| 2015 | 26 | #5,186 | — | — |
| 2014 | 20 | #6,284 | — | — |
| 2013 | 18 | #6,836 | — | — |
| 2012 | 17 | #7,244 | — | — |
| 2011 | 17 | #7,225 | — | — |
| 2010 | 17 | #7,312 | — | — |
| 2009 | 8 | #12,849 | — | — |
| 2008 | 16 | #7,867 | — | — |
| 2007 | 18 | #7,186 | — | — |
| 2006 | 15 | #8,000 | — | — |
| 2005 | 14 | #8,040 | — | — |
| 2004 | 17 | #6,889 | — | — |
| 2003 | 9 | #10,731 | — | — |
| 2002 | 11 | #9,056 | — | — |
| 2001 | 10 | #9,625 | — | — |
| 2000 | 17 | #6,298 | — | — |
| 1995 | 9 | #9,019 | — | — |
| 1990 | 9 | #8,723 | — | — |
| 1985 | 14 | #5,155 | — | — |
| 1980 | 28 | #3,086 | — | — |
| 1975 | 43 | #2,032 | — | — |
| 1970 | 54 | #1,711 | — | — |
| 1965 | 112 | #975 | — | — |
| 1960 | 211 | #702 | — | — |
| 1955 | 371 | #472 | — | — |
| 1950 | 613 | #314 | — | — |
| 1945 | 664 | #262 | — | — |
| 1940 | 1,014 | #186 | — | — |
| 1935 | 1,425 | #145 | 14 | #1,971 |
| 1930 | 2,555 | #96 | 13 | #2,224 |
| 1925 | 3,892 | #70 | 11 | #2,650 |
| 1920 | 5,797 | #42 | 17 | #1,990 |
| 1915 | 6,077 | #35 | 15 | #1,911 |
| 1910 | 2,932 | #26 | 8 | #1,248 |
| 1905 | 2,276 | #27 | 10 | #810 |
| 1900 | 2,580 | #23 | 8 | #996 |
| 1895 | 2,129 | #24 | 12 | #619 |
| 1890 | 1,713 | #26 | 9 | #692 |
| 1885 | 1,086 | #29 | 8 | #729 |
| 1880 | 787 | #25 | — | — |
Famous people named Gertrude
- Gertrude Bell Military personnel · 1868–1926
- Gertrude Stein Writer · 1874–1946
- Gertrude B. Elion Chemist · 1918–1999
- Gertrude the Great Religious figure · 1256–1302
- Gertrude of Nivelles Religious figure · 626–659
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Gertrude mean?
From Old French [Term?], from Proto-Germanic *gaizaz (“spear”) + *þrūþiz (“strength”) or *trut- (“maiden, dear”) ; name of a Belgian seventh century saint.
How popular is the name Gertrude in 2025?
Gertrude ranked #6,632 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 17 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Gertrude?
177,668 babies have been named Gertrude in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Gertrude most popular?
Gertrude peaked in 1917, when 6,315 newborns received the name.
Is Gertrude a boy or girl name?
Gertrude is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Gertrude rising or falling?
Gertrude is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Gertrude?
Well-known people named Gertrude include Gertrude Bell (military personnel), Gertrude Stein (writer), Gertrude B. Elion (chemist).