Gertrude "Trudy" Haynes (née Daniels; 1926 – 2022) was an American news reporter. She became the nation's first African American TV weather reporter when she was hired by WXYZ-TV in Detroit in 1963. In 1965, she became the first African American TV news reporter for KYW-TV (now CBS-3), in Philadelphia, where she continued until her retirement in 1999. Haynes, who received an Emmy Award as well as two Lifetime Achievement Awards during her 33-year tenure at KYW-TV, was hosting an online show called the "Trudy Haynes Show" at the time of her death.
Gertrude "Trudy" B. Elion (1918 – 1999) was an American biochemist and pharmacologist, who shared the 1988 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with George H. Hitchings and Sir James Black for their use of innovative methods of rational drug design for the development of new drugs. This new method focused on understanding the target of the drug rather than simply using trial-and-error. Her work led to the creation of the anti-retroviral drug AZT, which was the first drug widely used against AIDS. Her well known works also include the development of the first immunosuppressive drug, azathioprine, used to fight rejection in organ transplants, and the first successful antiviral drug, acyclovir (ACV), used in the treatment of herpes infection.
I don’t want to be rude. But it sounds really harsh. I’m trying to warm up to it.
― Anonymous User 4/27/2024
2
I used to think this was one of the most ugliest names ever! I thought it sounded totally grating, being overly harsh to my ears. However, I've had a change of heart for almost a year now; Gertrude is so pretty and classy! What I hated most about the name is what I love now...it sounds so powerful and strong. Despite also being strong-sounding, it has a certain gentleness to it (like a "tough love," which is super positive to me. Due to this, I also view it as kind of romantic-sounding). Not to mention, it's highly uncommon nowadays! I bet a modern woman could wear this name with ease; I see it as a badass name. Gertrude's of the world, you rock. If you're considering Gertrude, I say to go for it!
Gertrude (Trudi) Guda is a Surinamese poet and anthropologist. She headed the Department of Cultural Affairs of Suriname from 1969 to 1971. She studied in the Netherlands and was inspired by Miguel Barnet's writing a biography of Esteban Montejo.
While I would not really name a child this, I love this name, actually. I love how the meaning contrasts with its association to older, frail women, and it makes me think of a badass 80yo lady. Amazing name for a fictional character.
― Anonymous User 3/6/2023
4
Gertrude "Ma" Rainey (née Pridgett; 1886 – 1939) was an American blues singer and influential early blues recording artist. Dubbed the "Mother of the Blues", she bridged earlier vaudeville and the authentic expression of southern blues, influencing a generation of blues singers.
I think the main reason people don't like this name is because they have a misogynistic belief, though perhaps not consciously, that women should only be soft and gentle and the name doesn't fit that. Well, women can be strong and tough and this name fits that. It is a good name and I am proud to have it on my list to use someday.
Thank you @lizanna86And to everyone who says they won't name their child Gertrude because it's unpopular, go ahead and name your child Emma or Bella, they'll be the 5th in their class... how original.
I love classical names, and I'm a fan of bringing old names back, but this is one name that I would not be willing to bring back in the form of my own child. It's not pleasant sounding at all. "Trudy" as a nickname is cute enough, but there are better nicknames attached to better names that are not Gertrude. To me, Hildegard is on a similar level aesthetically, but I would use Hildegard before I would use Gertrude, at least, because of the saint reference (H von Bingen). Gertrude to me is just plain old lady sounding. Hard to bring back.
― Anonymous User 10/8/2021
4
This name is a lovely name, and means "spear" and "strength" Please, don't hate on a name, it's not ugly, and it's an AMAZING name!
― Anonymous User 9/11/2021
8
Can only imagine a chicken or a 90 year old woman with dementia who mumbles to herself all day.
To be honest I can imagine a baby with any name, be it Gertrude, Mildred, Ermentrude, it's not that hard for me since every Gertrude was once a baby, or maybe I can imagine Gertrude on a five year old because I met my good friend, Gertrude, when she was five. Of course names come and go so you may only think of a grandma when Helen comes up, because Helen was only popular in the past, so since there isn't any new babies being named Helen the babies that were named Helen became older and older until they became grandmothers, and so Helen became "a grandma name". So I guess in 70 years or so it's gonna be hard for people to imagine "Olivia" or "Sophia" on a five year old because by then Olivia and Sophia will mostly comprise of old folks, just like Gertrude right now. I like Gertrude, it's okay if you hate it because it's your opinion. :) But if you leave a hate comment on any name, have the guts to say it! Don't be an anonymous coward.
― Anonymous User 10/3/2020
6
I just had to came back and say how much I dislike this name. Honestly this "name" should stay in 1900 it sounds old- fashioned and pompous. I'm not saying I like trendy names like (Kaylee, Ashleigh, etc) I actually hate those names. But please use a name that's APPROPRIATE for a young girl today! Honestly who can imagine a 5 year old called "Gertrude"?
― Anonymous User 9/25/2020
-5
Gertrude was the name of one of my best friends, she was fun to hang around with. I don't really dislike any names except for Gladys. I think Gertrude is a very nice name, it's really rare because people heavily associate it with an old lady and think it's awful, I don't. I associate Gertrude with an energetic friend who's reliable. When I was a child I associated Hannah with an old lady because many people I knew had grandmothers named Hannah, I myself had a great great great grandmother named Hannah, now Hannah is a very popular name, and I hope Gertrude will become popular again like Hannah, Alice, and Hazel. I feel like a baby named Gertrude will for sure get teased because many people stated on this site that they hate Gertrude, which is unfortunate because Gertrude is one fine name. Overall I like Gertrude, thanks for reading :)
― Anonymous User 9/14/2020
2
This name is over-hated. It's a lovely name! Very old-fashioned, yes, but so are names like Mary, Alice, Victoria, and other such "beautiful" names. Gertrude is the perfect blend of a comedic-sounding name and a sophisticated retro name. Gertrude is funny sounding on its own, with its rather unusual spelling and pronunciation, but it has good nickname potential like Gertie, Trudy, or Dede. It's also very sophisticated, giving images of glamour and class. It's very pretty in a sense of being retro, in the veins of names like Agnes and Loretta. Old-fashioned doesn't always mean ugly! Yeah, it's not the most "femme" name to give a daughter, but a name doesn't have to be feminine to be a good name for your daughter. Yeah, some people might say it's more fitting for a grandma than a little girl, but all grandmas were once little girls themselves! I say if you're looking for a unique but old-fashioned name for your daughter, I say Gertrude isn't half bad a pick!
This is an absolutely beautiful name, and it is tragic that it is scarce used. I agree with YourClairyGodmother: This is a lovely name which deserves none of the disdain that it receives.
― Anonymous User 8/26/2020
3
Oh come on! We all know what you're all thinking:THIS NAME IS HIDEOUS!
― Anonymous User 7/18/2020
3
This name is hideous. Just like the commenter below said. Also anyone who prefers Gertrude over Ella is crazy.
― Anonymous User 7/23/2020
3
Huh, a lot of negative comments on this name. I always thought this sounded cute and lovely, and I like Gertie or Tru as nicknames.
― Anonymous User 7/8/2020
11
I cannot get past the association with Gertrude Baniszewski.
Truly a hideous name, not just because it sounds dated. The -trude ending is a big part of what makes it so unappealing. It's funny that this name is being defended so strongly here in the comments, yet it rarely if ever appears in the polls and it has seldom been given to children since the 70s. I wonder who would actually name their kid Gertrude.
My Grandma's first name was Gertrude, and my parents considered giving me the middle name Gertrude. They decided to use her middle name instead, and I am ever so grateful this isn't my middle name. That would be extremely embarrassing.
― Anonymous User 1/21/2020
3
I hate this name. It seems stiff, drippy, ugly, awkward, prissy, stuck-up and over-old-fashioned to me. I don’t think it’s too bad with the nickname ‘Gertie’ though, and it’s rather nice with the nickname ‘Trudy’. A lot of people seem to share my opinion of this name. Its wonderful meaning is a total waste on a name like Gertrude. A lot of characters in classic literature have this name, so I’m under the impression that it was more common in the olden days than it is now. This is one of my absolute least favourite names in the world. It’s just, well, ugh!
I can see why this name might be mainly ugly to the public. Because the rate for the name being bad is not really that low! A perfect amount of people disliked this name for every rude comment about Gertrude. People think this name is hideous just because of nicknames that may sound like vomiting. Personally, I think there is something striking me that this may be an elegant name to have. I’m having a hard time saying this name is ugly (:!
― Anonymous User 12/31/2018
5
Gertrude “Gert” Yorkers from the Marvel comic/tv series ‘Runaways’ bears this name. She has purple hair, is a feminist, and is telepathically connected to a genetically engineered dinosaur, so she is a great representation of this name. Due to her and other strong women who bear this name, it actually holds the top spot in my favorite name list. I understand why people had an aversion to this name or think it’s too harsh to be feminine, but there are many cute nicknames (my favorite being ‘Gigi’) and even without the nickname, it has a wonderful sound and important meaning.
― Anonymous User 12/13/2018
2
Since national Italian statistics (1999-) Gertrude was used both in 2012 and 2015 with less than five babies each year.
In the well-known Italian masterpiece 'The Betrothed (I promessi sposi, 1827) Gertrude was the fictional name used for the real-live 'Nun of Monza'. She appears in Chapters IX, X, XVIII, XX and XXVII.
In 2018, 86 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) Gertrude who is registered female with the Social Security Administration. It is the 804th most common female first name for living U.S. citizens.
― Anonymous User 10/5/2018
6
I honestly don't get what is so bad about this name. It sounds charming and intelligent if you ask me. Not at all prude or elderly, and Gertie is a cute nickname.
I used to hate it but now I think it's unique and very adorable and inviting. It sounds like it has an underlying power but is very cute on the outside.
It’s a hideous, old, harsh grandma name and the Gert is so ugly. Like what one person said in the comments, names don’t have to sound feminine, but this just gets me- ewww!
I have no idea what the reasoning is behind "old woman name" complaints; everyone was born sometime. Personally, I can totally see the name on an eight year old girl.
My husband thinks this name is very "country". My first impression is that it isn't very pretty.
― Anonymous User 7/9/2017
-4
Despite its harsh sound, I have always liked the English pronunciation of Gertrude. It has a regal air about it, and Trudy is a nifty little nickname. That said, (in the US, at least) it's very much dated to a certain time period and is therefore considered "matronly." The German pronunciation is much softer and SO lovely. (But come to think of it, everything sounds better in German!)
My birth certificate omitted the first "r", so I was actually called GETRUDE as a first name. I was teased throughout my childhood and I hated it. So in addition to being a victim of racism I had quite THE name. I HATED myself and felt unloved. I proposed to get it removed as soon as I could legally do so. But after learning the meaning I LOVE IT both the dutch and Russian meanings- that's all I want to be called now.
― Anonymous User 4/3/2017
4
Not a favorite of mine but I adore the shortened name Gertie (Makes me think of Elliot's sister in ET)
All these people saying how unfeminine Gertrude is... as if girls and their names have to be feminine. Definitely no gender role interference here. I think Gertrude, along with Mildred and Olga, is cute and spunky. Names rarely provoke as much teasing as so many commenters seem to think.
I personally hate this name. It's all opinions, so, if you like it, hey. I don't agree, but that doesn't mean anything. To me it sounds like an ill old lady. Maybe nice, I may get that impression, but I DO NOT LIKE IT.
I'm sorry, but this is one of the harshest feminine names out there - definitely among the Top 5 Harshest used in Anglophone countries. I've had people tell me that Constance (one of my longtime favorites) has a harsh sound, but she has *nothing* on Gertrude! It's just so... guttural.As far as images of the name go? The only Gertrude I know goes by "Gert"... and she's my stepsister and stepbrother's tiny ninety-three-year-old grandmother from Germany. Then again, her real name might actually be Gertraud...
This was about to be my cousins name! I'm so glad my aunt changed it to Ella because I hate this name and I would NEVER name my daughter this, she'll get teased! I'm so happy her name was changed to Ella! This name sounds funny to me.
This name is no longer used in its home country Germany. Most people connect this name to old ladies and not to babies. It has no good sound either, not in German and not in English, I think it would be a bad thing to give it to a child. Not even the Nickname "Gertie" is positive because it means literally something like "spear-y, shaft-y, lance-y". The other possible Nickname "Trudi" sounds like someone rather simple.. I think there are so many nicer names available which could be used. Gertrude is definitely not a name which needs to be resurrected!
This is a strong, lovely name. I'm not sure whether I'd be brave enough to use it for my own child, but I can see it as a name for a little girl today.
"þruþ/þryþ" strength is merely the OE from of the word (OE y representing /y/, the i-umlaut of u), not the ancient Germanic, which would be closer to "truuitho". The word is an adjectival substantive based on the root of "true" in the earliest sense of "firm, solid, strong", just as "truth" is a later formation from "true" in the derived senses "faithful, honest, reliable). The OE form þruþ is anomalous, perhaps influenced in sense and form by þrym "crowd, host, multitude, force", but corresponds well with High German drude "witch", and Romance forms drudo/druda "sweetheart", where the semantic development seems to be "covenant>marriage>spouse>sweetheart>hussy>(euphemistically?)witch", but sparse documentation of the vernacular on the continent prior the the 13th C makes reliable connection difficult.
Wow, so much hate for this name. I expected some dislike for it, but not this much. I think it is a nice classic, but will probably never come back into fashion. I do like the nickname Trudy though.
Says the guy who has Grey in his personal name list.
― Anonymous User 2/20/2021
4
In recent years, the (Low) German and Frisian short forms Gesa, Gesine and Gesina are slowly being "rediscovered" in Germany. Especially Gesa is not a stranger anymore in Northern German maternity wards.
― Anonymous User 7/21/2011
3
One of the top funniest names ever. Sounds granny and old fashioned. There are so many ridiculous names out there and they all give me the same impression: UGLINESS.
Arrghh! This is the worst name you could possibly give your adorable, sweet baby daughter. If I'd been a girl and my parents had called me that, I'd have illegally changed my name. It sounds like a vomiting noise. Like someone else pointed out, the old-fashioned names make comebacks tend to have lots of vowels, and Gertrude has mostly consonants. To any parent considering this name: Its days are LONG over. It's hard to believe that this name was popular enough back in the day to be considered an old lady name now. Just don't. Name your kid Apple instead, I'm serious.
While I wouldn't use it on a person, I wouldn't mind using Gertrude as a name for a character in a story. My friend has a crocheted octopus named Gertrude Bubbles.
― Anonymous User 5/10/2011
5
This is not my favorite name. I don't really even know why; I just can't stand the way it looks or sounds. I especially dislike the nickname Gertie.
I used to despise this name and I thought it was hideous. But now, it has really grown on me and I find it attractive. I hope society changes its mind like I did.
For some reason, I find myself really liking this name. I don't love it enough to give my daughter this name, but my mum did say that she could picture me with a daughter called Gertrude. I can see why some people don't like the name, and I totally respect that. The meaning is strong and cool as well.
― Anonymous User 9/26/2010
4
One of my clients had a pug named Gertrude, so this is what I automatically think about when I hear the name... pugs.
― Anonymous User 7/26/2010
1
Gertrude Baniszewski, the psychopathic divorcee who mercilessly tortured Sylvia and Jenny Likens and eventually killed Sylvia, has ruined this name for me. A thrice divorced mother who encouraged neighborhood children to participate in the torture of these two sisters in her care. May the Likens family not have suffered in vain.
A hideous old-woman name. The nickname Gertie only makes it worse. It makes me think of a tall, lanky woman in her seventies with dirty, stringy hair and a bad attitude.
Gertrude has been considered an "old ladies' name" for as long as I've been alive (56 yrs). Of course, the names that were popular when I was a child (Karen, Carol, Linda) are rapidly turning into "old lady names" in their own right. Name trackers have noted that many an old fashioned name has made a comeback in recent decades (Emma, Emily), but the savviest commentators have noted that these are "vowel rich" names whereas "Gertrude" is heavy with consonants. This tendency would likely work against Mildred, say, as well. Someone above pointed out that Gertrude "contains" the word "rude," and therefore has negative connotations. Etymologically, of course, it has nothing to do with "rudeness," but we're talking subjective impressions. Doesn't help that Mildred "contains" the word "dread" either, I suppose. BTW, Drew Barrymore's character in ET was called "Gertie," but it wasn't clear what her actual given name was. It could have been an "off-the-wall" nickname for all we know.
Gertrude Jekyll (born 29 November 1843 – died 8 December 1932) was a British gardener and a very important horticultural influence of the latter 19th century and early 20th century. :) A great gardener.
It does sound like an "old lady's name", but I still really like it. I love the meaning, and for some reason the pronunciation doesn't bother me. I think it's alright to use it as a character's name.
A bearer of sorts was Hikaru Sulu's Weeper plant in the Enterprise's botanical garden in Star Trek's first season episode The Man Trap. He called the plant Gertrude but yeoman Rand insisted it was a boy plant ("A girl can tell") and called it Beauregard instead.
You won't get compliments from me about this name. The name is old-fashioned, of course, but that's not the worst aspect of it. The name just sounds ugly, and the nicknames Gertie and Trudy are bad. Gertie is too childish for a grown-up, and Trudy sounds like Rudy, which is an ugly name as well.
A famous bearer was American children's author Gertrude Chandler War (April 16, 1890 - August 30, 1979). She is best known as the creator of the Boxcar Children book series, first published in 1942. She wrote a total of 19 Boxcar Children stories. Since her death, more than 120 additional titles have been written.
One thing I don't understand is why I don't like this name. It means "spear of strength" (I think spears are cool), and it's the name of Hamlet's mum (Hamlet was a cool play). Those assosiations alone ought to make me think it's cool, but I don't. I agree with everyone who's said they think it's an "old lady name". It IS rather dated, in my opinion.
A famous bearer was English actress Gertrude Lawrence (July 4, 1898 - September 6, 1952). She won a Tony Award for her role as Anna Leonowens in the first Broadway production of the popular musical "The King and I" in 1952.
I actually really like Gertrude. It has a bit of 1920s classy feel to it, and it has, for some I suppose, the connotations of Gertrude Stein. However, I dislike "Trudy."
This is my grandmother's name, Gertrude May (born 1928) and she likes her name and hates nicknames. I don't see why it isn't a perfectly good name for anyone. At least a daughter of today with this name would not be the fifth Jade or Taylor in her class! It was thought a beautiful name before, it could be, again. The "old ladies" who have this name were once cute little girls, and attractive women! In one hundred years people will be saying that Tiffany sounds like an old lady's name. :) It's just a matter of what we're accustomed to hearing.
― Anonymous User 1/6/2008
9
This is definitely an old lady name, no offense to those Gertrudes out there. I just don't think that a child has to be punished with this name. Again, no offense. This name was mostly used in the early 1900s and should stay that way. Face it : Gertrude is no longer in style, if it ever was. So please; don't burden your precious little girl with this name. She deserves better.
Gertrude Banda was a famous British/Indonesian spy during the first half of the 20th century. She was a double agent between the British and the Japanese in World War II, and also a spy for the USA (through the British) in the Korean Conflict. She was rumored to be the daughter of Mata Hari.
― Anonymous User 12/2/2007
1
Well, I personally would never in a million years name my child Gertrude, though I do think the nickname "Gertie" is adorable.
I love the meaning, but I personally don't like the way the name sounds. I can understand why someone would want this name for their daughter, though. There's so much history behind it.
Ugh! I can't stand that name! I always think of it as a name to use for an unlikeable character in a story, and it seems comical as well because it sounds so old fashioned and ugly. Sorry but it's my least favourite name and if my parents called me that I would never forgive them.
Gertrude Stein (American writer who spent most of her life in France) was a famous bearer.
― Anonymous User 2/20/2007
2
I personally love the name Gertrude and I'm hoping that in fifteen or so years it won't be considered such an "old lady" name. However, I would still use it if it is considered such, and as the previous poster said, use the nickname Trudy.
― Anonymous User 1/29/2007
3
I personally love the name Gertrude and I'm hoping that in fifteen or so years it won't be considered such an "old lady" name. However, I would still use it if it is considered such, and as the previous poster said, use the nickname Trudy.
― Anonymous User 1/29/2007
7
And "old lady name", maybe, but these older women started out as little girls, did they not? And I think that it has a pretty ring to it, although it is not the nicest name.And shouldn't it be pronounced "GER-trood" or "GER-trood-a" instead of "GUR-trood"? Why do we English speakers slur our vowels so often?And if you don't like this name for a little girl, use the pet name "Trudy". That way it's not quite so bad.
No offence to any Gertrudes, but I don't like this name. It would be a ridiculous thing to call a child, not recommended.
― Anonymous User 10/10/2006
-6
I guess it could be nice, but so many people think of it as an old lady name, it just gives out that impression. It's not particularly pretty though.
― Anonymous User 9/13/2006
0
This name is also very rarely a male name. It just barely made the list of top 1000 male names in the United States during the first decade of the 20th century.
Ludwig van Beethoven had a pupil named Gertrude, for whom he wrote a piece, which he called "For Gertrude." The other piece he wrote for a pupil is more famous: "For Elizabeth," or "Fur Elise."
I started tracing my family tree a couple of months ago and have found 5 Gertrudes up to 1891 but none after that. The last one was known by her middle name, according to my family, this is because she thought it was old fashioned even then. I quite like it though.
― Anonymous User 8/17/2005
3
My grandma's name was "Gertrud", without the "e" at the end. She once told me it means as much as "the one who carries a spear".
It's actually nice but most people think of it as an ugly "old lady name". I personally like it but I do NOT recommend it because your child might be teased.
My only reason for disliking this name is that it reminds me of Hamlet, a play which you could say I dislike, but I agree that parents should not be put of by its 'ugly' reputation.
My grandmother Gertrude saved many lives during WWII by participating in the Dutch underground. Our daughter's middle name is Gertrude in honour of my grandmother who I never met. My daughter, now 8, loves the meaning of her name.
St. Gertrude of Nivelles is the patron saint of cats and those who love them. I think Gertrude is a really beautiful name, and parents shouldn't be afraid of its "ugly" reputation.
• https://nvb.meertens.knaw.nl/naam/is/Gertrude (in Dutch; shows the prevalence of the name in the Netherlands in 2017)
• http://www.names.be/meisjesnamen.html?met=Gertrude&sort=beldesc (in Dutch; shows the prevalence of the name in Belgium in 2009)
It's the most popular feminine name that starts with Gertrud- in Belgium, whereas in the Netherlands, it takes the third place:
• Belgium: http://www.names.be/meisjesnamen.html?met=Gertrud&sort=beldesc (in Dutch)
• Netherlands: https://nvb.meertens.knaw.nl/naam/begintmet/Gertrud (in Dutch)
For the Dutch pronunciation of Gertrude, you can listen to the audio clips featured on the websites below:
• https://nl.wiktionary.org/wiki/Gertrude (in Dutch)
• https://nl.forvo.com/search/Gertrude/nl/ (in Dutch)
• https://youtu.be/QEU-XbaHQ-M (in Dutch; the name is said at 0:07 and 0:10)
• https://youtu.be/ImS5yZcKDmc (in Dutch; the name is said at 0:32)
• https://youtu.be/GXCZr9sNJIY (in Dutch; the name is said at 0:05 and 0:09)
Converted to IPA, it should be: /ɣɛr.'try.də/