The given name Gilberto originated from the Germanic languages during the Middle Ages. It is a compound name derived from the words "gil" meaning "pledge" or "hostage" and "berht" meaning "bright". The earliest form of the name was "Gillebertus" in Medieval Latin.

In the 8th century, the name appeared in the Ecclesiastical History of the English People, written by the Venerable Bede. This historical text documents one of the earliest known uses of the name, referring to a Saxon noble named Gilbertus.

The name gained popularity across Europe during the High Middle Ages. One of the earliest recorded examples was Gilberto de la Porree, a French scholar and theologian who lived from around 1076 to 1142. He was a prominent figure in the medieval renaissance of the 12th century.

In England, the name was introduced by the Norman conquest in the 11th century. One of the most famous bearers of the name was Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Pembroke, who lived from 1180 to 1230. He was a powerful Anglo-Norman nobleman and one of the leading figures in the conflict between King John and the barons.

The name also has religious significance in the Catholic Church. Saint Gilbert of Sempringham, who lived from around 1083 to 1189, was the founder of the Gilbertine Order of monasteries in England. He is the patron saint of disabled children and those with disfigurements.

Another notable figure was Gilbert Keith Chesterton, the English writer and philosopher who lived from 1874 to 1936. He is best known for his fictional priest-detective Father Brown and his Christian apologetics works.

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, was a French aristocrat and military officer who lived from 1757 to 1834. He played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War, serving as a major-general in the Continental Army under George Washington.