girl's name
Gilberte
zheel-BAIRT (French)
- Origin French
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 2
- Letters 8
- Births on record 62,346
Gilberte means bright pledge, and the pledge in it is the same word as in Ghislaine — the Germanic gisil named a hostage handed over as security for a treaty, and both names are on this site.
- Gilberte is a name of French origin.
- Peaked in France in 1926, when 2,080 babies were given the name.
- It has largely dropped out of use in France.
- First appears in birth records in 1900.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 2.
Gilberte Over Time
Births per decade in France, 1900s to 1990s.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 6,760 |
| 1910s | 10,935 |
| 1920s | 19,225 |
| 1930s | 13,245 |
| 1940s | 6,635 |
| 1950s | 3,855 |
| 1960s | 1,195 |
| 1970s | 245 |
| 1980s | 40 |
| 1990s | 15 |
What Gilberte Means
Gilberte means bright pledge, or famous hostage. The Germanic joins a word for a person given as security to one meaning bright or renowned, so both halves rank the bearer.
Where Gilberte Comes From
Gilberte is the French feminine of Gilbert, from the Germanic gisil — a pledge or hostage — joined to beraht, bright or famous, the element behind Albert and Robert. The gisil is the same one in Ghislaine and Gisèle: royal children were exchanged as living guarantees that treaties would hold, and were raised at the other court, so the word marked status rather than shame. Gilberte Swann is a central figure in Proust.
Gilberte in Use
Gilberte peaked in France in 1926, when 2,080 babies were registered, and it is faded. It charts in no market in the most recent year, despite 62,346 lifetime births. Only sixteen American births appear in birth records at its own peak year, so this is very nearly a French-only name.
How Popular Is Gilberte?
In 1995, Gilberte was given to 5 babies in France. It was given to fewer than five babies in the most recent year of published figures for France.
Where Gilberte Is Used
French counts are rounded to the nearest five and nothing below five is published, so these figures show the shape of the name's use rather than an exact tally. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Gilberte
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Gilberte Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Gilberte over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Gilberte
- French zheel-BAIRT /ʒil.bɛʁt/
Gilberte in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Gilberte
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Gilberte — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Gilberte
What does the name Gilberte mean?
Bright pledge — the Germanic gisil, a hostage, joined to beraht, bright.
Is it related to Ghislaine?
Yes — both are built on gisil, a person given as security for a treaty.
Is Gilberte in Proust?
Gilberte Swann is one of the central figures of In Search of Lost Time.
Is Gilberte still used?
It is faded. It charts in no market in the current year.
How popular is the name Gilberte?
In 1995, Gilberte was given to 5 babies in France. It was given to fewer than five babies in the most recent year of published figures for France.
Is Gilberte a girl's or a boy's name?
Gilberte is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Gilberte?
Gilberte has 2 syllables.
When was Gilberte most popular?
Gilberte peaked in 1926, when 2,080 babies were given the name. It has largely dropped out of use.