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 [ 2 syll. gil-ber(t), gi-lbe-rt ] The boy name Gilbert is pronounced as GIHLBerT KEY. Gilbert is an English, French, and German name of Germanic origin. The name is of the meaning bright pledge. Two-element name derived from the elements 'gisil' meaning pledge, hostage ; 'berht' meaning bright, famous. Gisilbert (Germanic) is an older form of Gilbert. The name is associated with the medieval custom where rival noblemen would send their children to be raised at each other's court, as a pledge to ensure peace and friendship between them; the child would then be known as a 'gisil' (pledge, hostage). The name was introduced by the Normans to England in the 11th century, but it was used on a regular scale only into the 17th century. The name is common among Roman Catholics, who sometimes bestow it in tribute to Saint Gilbert of Sempringham (1083-1190), the only Englishman to found a convent. In Scotland, the name is sometimes taken as an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Gilbride. The name Gilberta (Dutch, English, German, and Italian) is the female equivalent of Gilbert. Gibbon (Irish), Gibby (Scottish), Gijs (Dutch), Gijsbert (Dutch), Gilberto (Italian and Spanish), Gilibeirt (Irish), Gilleabart (Scottish), Gilles (French), Gisbert (German), and Giselbert (German) are variants of Gilbert. Other variants of Gilbert include the short form Gil (English), and the pet forms Bert (Dutch, English, and Scandinavian), Bertie (English), Gib (English), Gibb (English), Gill (English and Hebrew), and Gilly (English). Gilbert is a classic favorite. Currently it is still somewhat popular as a baby name for boys, though to a lesser extent than it was previously. At the modest height of its usage in 1930, 0.187% of baby boys were given the name Gilbert. Its ranking then was #91. The baby name has since markedly declined in popularity, and is now of occasional use. In 2008, its usage was only 0.015% and its ranking #728. Within the group of boy names directly linked to Gilbert, Gilberto (Italian and Spanish) was the most popular. In 2008, it was 15% more popular than Gilbert. Baby names that sound like Gilbert include Gilibeirt (Irish), Gualberto (Spanish), Gilberto (Italian and Spanish), and Gilleabart (Scottish). KEY: Pronunciation for Gilbert: G as in "green (G.R.IY.N)" ; IH as in "it (IH.T)" ; L as in "lee (L.IY)" ; B as in "be (B.IY)" ; ER as in "hurt (HH.ER.T)" ; T as in "tea (T.IY)"   |
