[name_m]How[/name_m] do you feel about the name [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f], nn [name_f]Gertie[/name_f]?
It’s my Great Grandmothers name I have pondered on using it for a middle name for a future child, but its not the most pretty name and I could see how someone would dislike it. [name_f]Kinda[/name_f] like [name_f]Bertha[/name_f].
I think it won’t be a popular choice. Right now it’s really unfashionable. I’ve seen it used as an example of an unappealing old name many times. That said, it has grown on me lately. Especially with the nickname [name_f]Gertie[/name_f] or [name_f]Trudy[/name_f] and I can see it coming back again someday,but probably not for a generation or two.
Ha! I know i had this moment where I thought the sound was not too harsh. For example drew Barrymore was “[name_f]Gertie[/name_f]” in ET and she is so cute. However I’m not sure you would love to have the name.
Sometimes the girl makes the name … If you love it, your girl will own it.
I like [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f], especially with nns [name_f]Gertie[/name_f] or [name_f]Trudy[/name_f], but prefer [name_f]Gretchen[/name_f] as [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f] can seem a little cold-- [name_f]Gretchen[/name_f] seems more friendly or warmer to me. Because [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] has the strong D at the end, I’d probably use [name_f]Gretchen[/name_f] instead of [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f] with your sibset, but either one works well in terms of style.
A few other names that I think might work for you are [name_f]Esther[/name_f] or [name_f]Vanessa[/name_f] (nn [name_f]Essie[/name_f]), [name_f]Louise[/name_f] ([name_u]Lou[/name_u]), [name_f]Florence[/name_f] ([name_f]Flossie[/name_f]), [name_f]Edith[/name_f] ([name_f]Edie[/name_f]), [name_f]Frederica[/name_f] ([name_u]Freddie[/name_u]), [name_f]Agatha[/name_f] ([name_f]Aggie[/name_f]), [name_f]Edwina[/name_f] ([name_f]Winnie[/name_f]), [name_f]Theresa[/name_f] ([name_f]Tess[/name_f]), [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] ([name_f]Immy[/name_f]), [name_f]Frances[/name_f] ([name_f]Franny[/name_f]), and [name_f]Constance[/name_f] ([name_u]Connie[/name_u]).
I totally agree
Maybe you can use [name_f]Greta[/name_f] as an alternative? [name_f]Greta[/name_f] would be great with your 3 girls.
I know clunky names are cool, and the clunkier you go the cooler you are right now, but I just can’t get behind [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f]… or [name_f]Gertie[/name_f] or [name_f]Trudy[/name_f] for that matter!
I do agree to a certain extent that “the child makes the name”, but why make it such an uphill struggle for them?
I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] the name [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f]. I started calling my daughter [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f] all the time to tease her and then fell in love with the name. I prefer [name_f]Trudy[/name_f] to [name_f]Gertie[/name_f] for a nn, but both are cute.
I absolutely agree with katinka - [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f] is a step too far.
My mind went immediately to [name_u]Drew[/name_u] Barrymore’s [name_f]Gertie[/name_f] in ET, too, and that’s probably because you and I are old 
It’s been my #1 girl name for years now. Others might disagree, but I think it’s classy, and elegant, and charming, and highly sophisticated.
My one issue with it (and it is a big one), is that it isn’t anything like any of the girl names that we see today. It doesn’t fit in with the sickly sweet modern creations such as [name_u]Paisley[/name_u] and [name_f]Skylyn[/name_f]. It doesn’t match the same safe and secure feel of the timeless classics like [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] and [name_f]Ava[/name_f]. It doesn’t even blend with other vintage names that have recently been brought back. Because while [name_f]Mabel[/name_f], [name_f]Hattie[/name_f], [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] and [name_f]Cora[/name_f] all maintain a light and gentle aura, [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f] is much more thick and cumbersome.
[name_m]Don[/name_m]'t get me wrong! If a girl named [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f] was surrounded by other girls named [name_f]Hildegarde[/name_f], [name_f]Olga[/name_f] and [name_f]Clothilde[/name_f], I don’t think there would be a problem. I know that the person makes the name but, in reality, I cannot realistically see a [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f] being happy with her name in a world that is populated by Isabellas, Lunas, Lilys, Chloes, and Abigails. It’s a sad truth, really. And one I struggle with constantly. In fairness, I do believe that the right kind of girl could pull it off and be proud of it but, how would you be able to tell if your daughter was the right girl, unless you took the plunge and used it? For me personally, as an individual who has grown up hating my own name, at the moment I wouldn’t want to take that chance.
Haha! So true
We won’t use it but it is definitely a gulity pleasure though.
I think it’s ok, but maybe not quite ready to come back yet. I definitely prefer the name [name_f]Greta[/name_f].
Your first 3 girls have lovely sounding names so I think #4 deserves the same. I can’t get past the [name_m]RUDE[/name_m] in [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f]. The name is heavy and clunky. [name_m]Even[/name_m] tho I have a long dead relative with the name, I would choose something else. My sister did use [name_f]Gerti[/name_f] for her dog, but I still don’t like it. Yes, it was because of ET. But it’s been a number of years since ET, and no big flood of Gertrudes.
Why not [name_f]Suzanna[/name_f] [name_u]July[/name_u] nn [name_f]Suki[/name_f]?
Are there any other names that you like?
[name_f]Angela[/name_f] [name_f]Trudi[/name_f]? Nn [name_f]Trudi[/name_f] or [name_f]Angi[/name_f]?
It’s really cute! Especially the nn [name_f]Gertie[/name_f]…
It’s a nice name, although every [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f] that I have met hates their name. I also prefer the nickname [name_f]Trudy[/name_f] but that’s just my opinion. She will probably never have another girl in her class with that name. I like it, and it sounds nice with your other daughters.
Unfortunatly, I think [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f] is a homely name. It’s too bad because the nicknames are the cutest! [name_f]Trudy[/name_f], [name_f]Gertie[/name_f], [name_f]Greta[/name_f], [name_f]Gigi[/name_f]. Is it possible you’d could find an alternative that provides similar nickname opportunities.
[name_m]How[/name_m] about:
[name_f]Georgia[/name_f] (NN [name_f]Gigi[/name_f])
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] (NN [name_f]Greta[/name_f] or [name_f]Gertie[/name_f])
[name_f]Gretchen[/name_f] (NN [name_f]Greta[/name_f] or [name_f]Gertie[/name_f])