Boy’s name · Germanic

Gilbert

How to say it: GIL-bert · /ˈɡɪlbərt/

From Old French Gilebert, from Germanic Gisilbert composed of 'gisel' (pledge) and 'beraht' (bright, famous).

Gilbert was the 1,153rd most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 145 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1930s, its births are down about 31% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,225 by 2030.

Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures

#1,153for boys in 2025
1 in 22,864US babies
145born in 2025
#1,225projected for 2030
1930sits peak decade
under 1 in 200chance a classmate shares it

Key facts

Key facts about Gilbert
Rank among boys’ names, 2025#1,153
Babies born in 2025145
Share of births1 in 22,864
Peak decade1930s
Change over 10 years−31%
Projected rank for 2030 (estimate)#1,225

Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.

Its life, decade by decade

Once prominent in the 1930s, Gilbert has faded far from that standing. Getting rarer still, it is projected to drift lower.

1900195020002020–25
Peak: 1,682 per million births, 1930s.

What goes with it

Sturdy and clipped, Gilbert sounds crisp and old fashioned. Albert belongs to the same stylistic set and Gil is the usual short form.

Nicknames

  • Gil
  • Gib
  • Bert

Honouring a Gilbert in the family

In the classroom

In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Gilbert is about under 1 in 200.

Around the world

This spelling is used in Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Norwegian, Polish, Spanish, Swedish.

Famous people named Gilbert

From Wikidata and Wikipedia

Good to know

  • Hurricane Gilbert 1988, retired name

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