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in reply to a message by aquamarina
I found it on a list of 'The Most Usual Christian Names of Men and Women' in the back of a English dictionary from 1796 so Gertrude was used before the 19th century here.
The full list:
http://www.behindthename.com/bb/arcview.php?id=3206247&board=baby
Plus, the entry for Gertrude in this database says it was introduced into England in the 15th century and Shakespeare used it.
~Louise x
Is going to Hell
~*~Top Names~*~
Charles Augustus & Isabel Primrose
I bites the heads of little flowers.
The full list:
http://www.behindthename.com/bb/arcview.php?id=3206247&board=baby
Plus, the entry for Gertrude in this database says it was introduced into England in the 15th century and Shakespeare used it.
~Louise x
Is going to Hell
Charles Augustus & Isabel Primrose
I bites the heads of little flowers.
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Replies
Ah, thanks for the info. I guess I should have said that Gertrude was a *trendy* name in the 19th century - I don't believe it was particularly fashionable in the preceding centuries, although I don't have any stats or anything - just an impression! I guess by 1796 it had become widespread and was maybe poised to be big (guess being the operative word). I agree with Anneza though, that Shakespeare probably used the name with northern Europe in mind.
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Shakespeare used Gertrude for Hamlet's mum, the queen of Denmark, so he seems to have associated it with northern Europe.
I find some of the entries in your 1796 list fascinating: Hierom, for instance, but not Jerome. Strange! Rice I suppose is Rhys. Could Benigma be Benigna, if the printing is sometimes unclear? That would be less odd. As for Fortune, Hagar, Jacquet and Sisera ... who says the world hasn't improved?
I don't imagine the compiler of that list did original research as we would understand it: probably just liked names and noted them down when he encountered them. Nice chap!
I find some of the entries in your 1796 list fascinating: Hierom, for instance, but not Jerome. Strange! Rice I suppose is Rhys. Could Benigma be Benigna, if the printing is sometimes unclear? That would be less odd. As for Fortune, Hagar, Jacquet and Sisera ... who says the world hasn't improved?
I don't imagine the compiler of that list did original research as we would understand it: probably just liked names and noted them down when he encountered them. Nice chap!
1