Yay!! So refreshing to hear some positive comments about the humble [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m] 
[name_f]My[/name_f] older sister introduced me to [name_u]Anne[/name_u] of [name_u]Green[/name_u] Gables when I was very young. I think we watched the video together a gazillion times, so I have fond associations to the name [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m] too 
So sad to hear about [name_m]Rupert[/name_m]! But think [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m] is a great other option. Has my vote!
Thank you! I actually really like [name_m]Gil[/name_m] as a nickname. It’s funny - I don’t like the other ‘bert’ names anywhere near as much but I can’t quite put my finger on why that is? Because, as a PP said before - [name_m]Al[/name_m] is probably much more of an attractive sound than [name_m]Gil[/name_m]. But for some strange reason I prefer [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m] over [name_m]Albert[/name_m] 
I actually am shocked at how popular [name_m]Albert[/name_m] has become. I think it’s because my FIL is an [name_m]Albert[/name_m]. He has a brother named [name_m]Alfred[/name_m]… they both go by [name_m]Al[/name_m]. So I hear either of these names and all I can picture are 60-70 year old men. Very hard for me to see on the up and coming generation.
Yes! [name_m]Hubert[/name_m] is so dapper! [name_f]My[/name_f] husband doesn’t like [name_m]Hugh[/name_m] or [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] though so I didn’t even consider mentioning this one to him.
And that’s a great point you brought up about [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m] being phonetically correct for the nickname [name_m]Gil[/name_m], unlike [name_f]Gillian[/name_f]. I’ve never actually thought about this, so thank you! 
Thank you for your support of [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m]!
You just made me laugh when I read your comments about [name_m]Albert[/name_m] and [name_m]Alfred[/name_m]. Here in Australia there is a longtime character on a soap opera called Home & Away and his name is [name_m]Alfred[/name_m], but he goes by ‘[name_m]Alf[/name_m]’. He’s in his 70’s and says the most irritating ‘[name_m]Ozzie[/name_m]’ catchphrases (that nobody here actually ever uses in real life) in the most bogan Australian accent. Unfortunately, he’s all I think of whenever I hear the name [name_m]Alfred[/name_m].
Thank you 
I love all these nicknames too!
[name_u]Love[/name_u] these suggestions! Thank you
I like [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m], especially with [name_m]Edmund[/name_m], it fits the tone of your first well - though it’s a shame your partner said no to [name_m]Rupert[/name_m], I think it goes really well.
I think there’s been lots of good suggestions here but quite a few of them don’t fit with the classic names you seem to like. I’d suggest going to your partner with it and see what he says, worst case is another no but you might as well put it to him.
It’s not a personal fave i must admit but it does have some good points
I like [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m] with [name_m]Edmund[/name_m]
Oh, I adore [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m]. [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m] [name_m]Alistair[/name_m] would be incredibly handsome!
I love [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m]! [name_u]Love[/name_u], love, love!
I love [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m] so much! Especially with the nickname [name_m]Gil[/name_m], which I think is so handsome and sweet!
[name_m]Edmund[/name_m] & [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m] go perfectly together!!
[name_u]Anne[/name_u] With An E really brought this name to light for me and I’ve come to like it quite a bit. I think it only goes to show that names fallen out of use or otherwise uncommon may cause an adverse first reaction, but eventually they open hearts and are timeless and memorable.
Absolutely yes from me - and hopefully from your husband 
(too bad about [name_m]Rupert[/name_m] [name_m]Alistair[/name_m], it’s an absolute gem)
I wish I could tell you I like it, but I’m really not a fan and I do think there’s some teasing potential. I love the character of [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m] [name_f]Blythe[/name_f] and hoped it would win me over to the name, but I still think all the hard consonants and the “bert” syllable are more clunky than cool. [name_m]Rupert[/name_m] feels warmer, and the p versus the b makes a big difference to me.
All that said, I can definitely imagine [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m] as a brother to [name_m]Edmund[/name_m]. [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] just seems fresher.
I LOVE [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m]!! It’s so cute! [name_m]Gil[/name_m] and [name_u]Bertie[/name_u] are both adorable nicknames, should you choose to use one. It makes me think of one of the main characters in my favourite book, The Tenant of Wildfell [name_m]Hall[/name_m].
Sad he doesn’t care for [name_m]Rupert[/name_m]! I thought [name_m]Rupert[/name_m] [name_m]Alistair[/name_m] was perfect!
I also associate [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m] with [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m] [name_f]Blythe[/name_f] from [name_u]Anne[/name_u] of [name_u]Green[/name_u] Gables and think it’s a really handsome and quirky literary name.
Love the nickname [name_u]Bertie[/name_u], too (and the association the nickname has with Wodehouse’s Jeeves and Wooster - all around lots of fun literary connections).
I like [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m] and [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] together. Overall I dont love [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m]… but theres nothing terrible about it.
Does your husband like it?
Have you considered [name_m]Reuben[/name_m] and [name_m]Gulliver[/name_m]? I find them more charming
I love it. I associate it with [name_u]Anne[/name_u] of [name_u]Green[/name_u] Gables. [name_m]Gil[/name_m] is an adorable nn.