Girtrude
A feminine name derived from Germanic elements meaning "strong spear."
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Girtrude. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Girtrude today is around 112 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Girtrude births was 1919 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Girtrude. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Girtrude is about 112 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Girtrudes were born before 1924.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Girtrude. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1919
16 babies that year
Average age
112
years old
1934 SSA rank
#3,588
Tracked since 1892
Popularity
Girtrude: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Girtrude from the 1890s through to the 1930s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 86 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1910s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Girtrude by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Girtrude during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Girtrudes live
Origin
Meaning and history of Girtrude
The name Girtrude is a unique and intriguing moniker with a rich historical tapestry woven across various cultures and time periods. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Germanic tribes, where it was derived from the Proto-Germanic root words "gard" and "þrūdiz," meaning "enclosure" and "strength" respectively. The name was likely a compound word signifying a "strong fortress" or "strong protection."
In the early medieval period, variants of the name surfaced in various Germanic languages, such as the Old High German "Geratrudis" and the Old English "Gerthrūd." These early forms were often associated with noble lineages and royalty, reflecting the name's connotations of power and resilience.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Gertrude of Nivelles, also known as Gertrude the Great, a 7th-century Frankish abbess and saint. Her life and deeds were chronicled in the "Vita Sanctae Geretrudis," which helped popularize the name among Christian communities across Europe.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Girtrude maintained a presence in various historical records and literary works. One notable figure was Gertrude of Hackeborn, a 13th-century German mystic and author of the influential book "Revelations." Her mystical experiences and writings contributed to the name's association with spirituality and wisdom.
In the Renaissance period, the name Girtrude found resonance among the aristocracy and intellectuals. One such individual was Gertrude of Austria (1226-1288), a Duchess of Austria and Styria, renowned for her patronage of the arts and her influential role in the political landscape of the time.
The 17th century saw the emergence of Gertrude More (1606-1633), an English writer and linguist celebrated for her contributions to the study of ancient languages and her poetic works. Her intellectual achievements further enriched the name's legacy.
As the centuries progressed, the name Girtrude continued to be borne by notable individuals across various fields. In the 19th century, Gertrude Bell (1868-1926), a British explorer, archaeologist, and political officer, made significant contributions to the understanding of the Middle East and its cultures.
Another prominent figure was Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932), an influential British horticulturist and garden designer whose artistic vision and innovative techniques left an indelible mark on the world of landscape architecture.
While the name Girtrude may have fallen out of widespread use in more recent times, its rich historical tapestry and enduring associations with strength, wisdom, and cultural significance continue to captivate those who appreciate the depth and resonance of traditional names.
People
Girtrude + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Girtrude as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with G
Other first names starting with G with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Girtrude: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Girtrude?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Girtrude going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 85,688,585 US residents.
Is Girtrude a common name?
We classify Girtrude as "Very Rare". It ranks above 6.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 216 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Girtrude most popular?
The single biggest year for Girtrude was 1919, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Girtrude is about 112 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Girtrude in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Girtrude a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Girtrude in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Girtrude still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Girtrude in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Girtrude can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Girtrude?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.