Name of the Day: Gilbert
It’s a common dilemma: you love the formal name, but dislike the obvious nickname. Or you adore the nickname, but wonder if the full version is too much.
This was our position when Katharine suggested Gilbert as today’s Name of the Day. Gil is fabulous, but was Gilbert really ready for a comeback?
There’s really no good way to get to Gil besides Gilbert. Gilligan conjures up the white-hat wearing castaway of sitcom fame. Gillespie might be an option, with jazz great Dizzy Gillespie as an inspiration - but that feels a bit much. The Biblical place name Gilead might work, but again, it’s a stretch.
So we return to Gilbert. Good old Gilbert! He’s never been out of the Top 1000 in the US, though he’s arguably fallen from fashion in recent decades, along with Albert, Hubert and Egbert. (Okay, Egbert was never super trendy.) And, of course, Dilbert is the hapless office worker of comic strip fame. Robert is the only ends-in-bert name that has never left the Top 100, and even he currently comes in at #47 - his lowest ebb in popularity since the rankings began.
All those “bert” endings derive from a Germanic element, beraht or beorht, meaning bright or shining. The “gil” comes from the Germanic gisel, borrowed from the Celtic giall, meaning pledge. If “pledge bright” is a little too cleaning product for you, string the bits together and you arrive at something like “bright oath” or “shining promise.” That sounds valiant, even if it’s a little imprecise.
Gilbert was one of many names the Normans brought to England, and it’s been in steady use ever since, popping up in the historical record as a first and last name. The 12th century Norman Earl of Pembroke was Gilbert de Clare. Fast-forward to the Victorian era and W.S. Gilbert collaborated with Arthur Sullivan on a string of popular comedies. Where would musical theater be without the Pirates of Penzance?
Three Saints Gilbert date from the early Middle Ages. The wealthy and well-born Gilbert of Sepringhman used his fortune to found monasteries and convents. Gilbert of Dornoch served as bishop in Scotland and Gilbert of Meaux served as bishop in France.
The popular pet form of Gilbert for at least some of these centuries was not Gil, but Gib. Gib, for reasons we can’t quite pin down, also referred to a male cat. In Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Falstaff complains, “Sblood, I am as melancholy as a gib cat or a lugged bear.” It’s an obscure reference, but one that your son might stumble across in English 101.
Feline references aside, Gilbert has fairly common in the US, ranking in the Top 200 from 1880 through 1968. He was at his most popular, #91, in 1929 and 1930. He’s fallen consistently since the 1960s, and today stands at a mere #679. In fact, the Spanish and Italian Gilberto outranks the English version, coming in at #594.
If you’re a TV Land fan, you might even recall that Gilbert Bates was one of Beaver Cleaver’s buddies on Leave it to Beaver. But today, the best known Gilbert is probably hoop star Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards.
Despite Gil’s tumble down the charts, we can imagine him sharing the playground with Charlie and Henry, Dexter, Emmett and Julius. The name has that appealing stands-out-but-not-far-out quality many parents seek. And we find Gil a truly appealing nickname for a boy that works on a grown-up, too.
Filed under: Names for Boys, Names of the Day, Saints |
Tags: Gilbert
Yet again a solid choice! I hate to say this but I know two.. one’s in his 50’s and his son, all of 2. He’s not fnd of his name but Mom kept pushing for a little Gil with every pregnancy. Big Gil made a deal, if it was a boy and was born on his birthday, Gilbert he’d be, after Dad (but no Junior!)
And now he’s 2 and has a little sister, Eleanor (after Grandma!) They’re the youngest in the biggest family I know (14 or 15 people total and I can’t remember the middle ones!)
Beyond Gilbert & Sullivan (now Sullivan’s a warm surname and Sully’s pretty cool, hmm?) ther’s Gil Gerard (born Gilbert C Gerard) aka Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. A big staple of my childhood.
Anyhoo, I find Gilbert a bit stuffy (in a good way) and warm. Really friendly feeling too and completely charming. I would not mind knowing another Gilbert or six, the one I’ve known, is a stand up, do right guy, awesome!
The inspiration for suggesting this name was Gilbert Blythe, Anne’s witty, teasing, self-assured rival (and later lone interest and later still husband) in Anne of Green Gables.
Gilbert is a stuffy name but then again I love stuffy (I mean I suggested Prudence for goodness sake!) Can I also just say how cute is Gil/Gilly?! Adorable.
Appellation Mountain always hits the nail on the head and I lcompletely concur with what you say about Gilbert being appealing because of it’s ’stands-out-but-not-far-out quality which is definately something I seek from a name.
I like Gil too, but I find I’ve been really preferring the old, medieval nicknames, so the aforementioned Gib is even more appealing to me! Gil is adorable (but Gilly’s a weed, both HP and George Martin’s “Ice & Fire” series have Gilly as a weed/flower in them. (I read far too much sci-fi/fantasy)!
All I can think is Gilbert Gottfried, which isn’t the best association. I can just hear his voice grating in my head now. I can’t get behind Gilbert, or even Gil all that much. Gil just reminds me of fish. However, if I were to use it, I’d probably weasel it out of Giles (which I love and would use it in full if I were to use it). Can’t get behind it today, sorry!
Well, as much as I love Gilbert Blythe, this name just doesn’t roll off the tongue for me. The LLLL sound makes me feel…yucky somehow. However, you did menion Arthur Sullivan in today’s article - how about doing a post on ol’ Arthur? Art is a great nickname, don’t you agree?
But Giles doesn’t have a Gil- sound! I think Giles is snappy but not as warm as Gilbert (I can understand if he doesn’t appeal, Catherine). Or am I completely missing something? Giles is ‘jiles’ to me, soft ‘G’. I think Nursery rhyme: Oranges & Lemons (but the words I learned are apparently alternates):
“Oranges and Lemons” say the bells of St Clement’s.
“Bull’s eyes and targets” say the bells of St Margaret’s.
“Brickbats and tiles” say the bells of St Giles’.
“Halfpence and farthings” say the bells of St Martin’s.
“Pancakes and fritters” say the bells of St Peter’s. [alternately: "Old shoes and slippers"]
“Two sticks and an apple” say the bells of Whitechapel.
“Pokers and tongs” say the bells of St John’s.
“Kettles and pans” say the bells of St Anne’s.
“Old Father Baldpate” say the slow bells of Aldgate.
“You owe me ten shillings” say the bells of St Helen’s.
“When will you pay me?” say the bells of Old Bailey.
“When I grow rich” say the bells of Shoreditch.
“Pray when will that be?” say the bells of Stepney.
“I do not know” says the great bell of Bow.
Here comes a candle to light you to bed,
Chip chop, chip chop, the last man’s dead.
Sorry for the highjack. I’m fairly proud of knowing this one, It was one of the first pieces of anything I memorised (and Baldpate still makes me giggle a bit like a five year old)
I like Giles but am still firmly behind Gilbert
Awww. Gilbert is so cute in an incredibly geeky way, like Henry! I think Gilbert, Henry, and Dexter would be an awesome sibset.
I could totally see musicians using Gillespie, too. It’s a surname with an accessible, user-friendly nickname. It’s dramatic, but no more than a lot of other choices out there, like Coriander!
Nope, not missing a thing: I pronounce like Jiles too, which is why I said I’d have to “weasel it out.” I see it along the lines of using Cat as a nn for Catherine; the letters are all there, even if the specific sound isn’t.
Thaat makes sense now. I must’ve missed the “weasel out ” phrase eariler.
And yeah, it would be a slight stretch but I’ve heard odder. 
I quite like the thought of Gillespie but would never go there - nope I’m firmly behind Gilbert. I’ll second Another’s suggestion of Arthur as a name of the day too!
*Knocks self on forehead.* Anne’s Gilbert, of course! How could I have forgotten him?
And holy cow, Lola, I don’t think I knew more than the first line of that nursery rhyme - ever! Much less *alternate* lines. You are most impressive.
As for Arthur? That’s my dear husband’s given name - and a family name in lonnnnng use on my mother’s side. So I’ll happily make him Name of the Day on August 4. I’m also intrigued by Giles, so he’s on the calendar for August 2nd.
The nickname Gib does appeal. I’ve liked Gibson as a surname name ever since Laurie, the Trading Spaces designer, chose it for her son a few years back. It’s a family name for her and her husband, which makes it both fashionable and sensible. For me, it would just be a choice from a book, and I’d rather stick with names with connections - even if they’re not direct - to our personal histories.
But Henry, Dexter and Gilbert … I can hear it!
And P.S., Another - your suggestion of Helena as NotD is on the calendar for August 11.