Gertrude

Gertrude is a female given name of Germanic origin. It derives from the elements ger, meaning spear, and trud, meaning strength or might. The name emerged in German-speaking areas and spread to other parts of Europe in the Middle Ages, later entering English usage. Variants include Gertrudis in Spanish, and diminutives such as Trude, Trudi, Gertie, and Gretchen in various languages.

Historical and religious figures bearing the name include Saint Gertrude of Nivelles (c. 626–659), a Belgian nun who founded a Benedictine abbey and became venerated as a patron saint of travelers and the dead. Gertrude the Great (1256–1302) was a German mystic and theologian known for her visions and spiritual writings.

Prominent Gertrudes in modern literature and public life include Gertrude Stein (1874–1946), an American writer central to early 20th-century Modernism; Gertrude Bell (1868–1926), an English archaeologist, diplomat, and founder of the Iraqi national archive; Gertrude Jekyll (1843–1932), a British garden designer and writer whose works influenced English horticulture; and Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney (1875–1942), an American sculptor and arts patron who founded the Whitney Museum of American Art.

In fiction, Gertrude is the name of the Queen in Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet, often referred to as Queen Gertrude, the mother of Prince Hamlet and wife of King Claudius.

Today the name is less common in many English-speaking countries but remains in occasional use and cultural references. The spelling variant Gertrud is common in several Nordic and Central European languages, while nicknames include Trudy, Trudie, and Gertie.