Gilbert is a

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

Norman-French Norman or Norman French (, french: Normand, Guernésiais: , Jèrriais: ) is a Romance language which can be classified as one of the Oïl languages along with French, Picard and Walloon. The name "Norman French" is sometimes used to descri ...

origin, itself from Germanic ''Gisilberht'' or ''Gisalberht''. Original spellings included ''Gislebert'', ''Guilbert'' and ''Gilebert''. The first element, ''Gil-'', comes from Germanic ''gīsil'', meaning "shaft of an arrow" or ''gisal'' "pledge, hostage", while the second element, ''-bert'' comes from Germanic ''-behrt'', short form of ''beraht'', meaning "bright" or "famous". The name spread in France and was introduced to

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

by the

Normans The Normans (Norman language, Norman: ''Normaunds''; french: Normands; la, Nortmanni/Normanni) were a population arising in the medieval Duchy of Normandy from the intermingling between Norsemen, Norse Viking settlers and indigenous West Fran ...

, where it was popular during the Middle Ages. That is the reason the pronunciation ''Gil-'' reflects the Northern Norman one , as opposed to Old French > French and explains the alternative spelling ''Guilbert'' with ''Guil-'' . Variant spellings have evolved throughout Europe, including the Iberian/Italian version ''

Gilberto Gilberto is the Iberian and Italian version of the originally Norman-French given name ''Gilbert'', used in Italian, Portuguese and Spanish languages. In Galician, it's spelled Xilberto or Xilberte. ''Gilbert'' is ultimately derived from the Germ ...

'' and, as was the custom across Europe, given a

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

language version ''Gilbertus'', to be used alongside a person's native variant. The diminutive, ''Gil'', eventually became popular as a standalone given name or

nickname A nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place or thing. Commonly used to express affection, a form of endearment, and sometimes amusement, it can also be used to express defamation of character. As a concept, it is ...

. ''Gilbert'', with variant spellings, is also used as a

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

(see

Gilbert (surname) Gilbert is a surname of English origin. It is derived from ''Giselbert'', an Anglo-Norman medieval personal name composed of the following Germanic elements: ''gisil'' ("pledge", "hostage", "noble youth") and ''berht'' ("bright", "famous"). This ...

Translations

* Arabic: غيلبرت * Belarusian: Гілберт ( Hilbiert) * Bengali: গিলবার্ট ( Gilabārṭa) * Chinese Simplified: 吉尔伯特 (Jí'ěr bó tè) * Chinese Traditional: 吉爾伯特 (Jí'ěr bó tè) * French: Gilbert *

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

: Gilbert * Gujarati: ગિલ્બર્ટ ( Gilbarṭa) * Hebrew: גילברט * Hindi: गिल्बर्ट ( Gilbarṭ) *

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

: Gilberto * Japanese: ギルバート ( Girubāto) * Kannada: ಗಿಲ್ಬರ್ಟ್ ( Gilbarṭ) * Korean: 길버트 (Gilbeoteu) * Lithuanian: Gilbertas * Macedonian: Гилберт * Marathi: गिल्बर्ट ( Gilbarṭa) * Mongolian: Гилберт ( Gilbyert) * Nepali: गिल्बर्ट (Gilbarṭa) * Persian: گیلبرت *

Portuguese Portuguese may refer to: * anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal ** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods ** Portuguese language, a Romance language *** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language ** Portu ...

: Gilberto * Russian: Гилберт * Serbian: Гилберт *

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

: Gilberto * Tamil: கில்பர்ட் ( Kilparṭ) * Telugu: గిల్బర్ట్ ( Gilbarṭ) * Thai: กิลเบิร์ต ( Kilbeir̒) * Turkish: Jilbert, Jilber * Ukrainian: Гілберт ( Hilbert) * Urdu: گلبرٹ * Yiddish: גילבערט ( Gylbʻrt)

People with the name

Saint Gilbert (disambiguation) Saint Gilbert may refer to: * Gilbert of Sempringham, founder of the Gilbertine Order *Gilbert de Moravia Gilbert de Moravia (died 1245), later known as Saint Gilbert of Dornoch, or Gilbert of Caithness, was the most famous Bishop of Caithness ...

, multiple persons * Gilbert (Archdeacon of Lismore), early 13th-century Irish Catholic priest *

Gilbert, Count of Brionne Gilbert (or Giselbert) de Brionne, Count of Eu and of Brionne ( – ), was an influential nobleman in the Duchy of Normandy in Northern France.Robinson, J. A. (1911). Gilbert Crispin, abbot of Westminster: a study of the abbey under Norman ru ...

(c. 1000–c. 1040), French noble *

Gilbert, Count of Gravina Gilbert was a Norman Count of Gravina from 1159 until 1167. His father Bertrand was the illegitimate son of Rotrou III, Count of Perche. He was a cousin of Margaret of Navarre, the queen of Sicily. He arrived in Sicily sometime around 1159 and, t ...

(fl. 1159–1167), Norman French noble in Italy *

Gilbert, Count of Montpensier Gilbert of Bourbon-Montpensier (1443 – 15 October 1496, Pozzuoli), Count of Montpensier, was a member of the House of Bourbon. He was the son of Louis I, Count of Montpensier and Gabrielle La Tour, Count of Montpensier and Dauphin d'Auvergne. He ...

(1443–1496), French noble *

Gilbert of Glenluce Gilbert (died 1253) was a 13th-century Cistercian monk, abbot and bishop. His first appearance in the sources occurs under the year 1233, for which year the ''Chronicle of Melrose'' reported that "Sir Gilbert, the abbot of Glenluce, resigned his ...

(died 1253), Scottish, 13th-century Cistercian monk, abbot and bishop *

Gilbert of Sempringham Gilbert of Sempringham (c. 1085 – 4 February 1189) the founder of the Gilbertine Order, was the only Medieval Englishman to found a conventual order, mainly because the Abbot of Cîteaux declined his request to assist him in organising a gro ...

(c. 1083–1190), the only Englishman to found a monastic order *

Gilbertus Anglicus Gilbertus Anglicus (or Gilbert of England, also known as ''Gilbertinus''; c. 1180 – c. 1250) was a medieval English physician. He is known chiefly for his encyclopedic work, the ''Compendium of Medicine'' (''Compendium Medicinæ''), most probably ...

or Gilbert of England (c. 1180 – c. 1250), English physician *

Gilbert Arenas Gilbert Jay Arenas Jr. (; born January 6, 1982) is an American former professional basketball player. Arenas attended Grant High School in the Valley Glen district of Los Angeles, and accepted a scholarship offer to the University of Arizona lat ...

(born 1982), professional basketball player *

Gilbert Bécaud Gilbert Bécaud (, 24 October 1927 – 18 December 2001) was a French singer, composer, pianist and actor, known as "Monsieur 100,000 Volts" for his energetic performances. His best-known hits are " Nathalie" and "Et maintenant", a 1961 release ...

(1927–2001), French singer, composer, pianist and actor *

Gilbert Brown Gilbert Jesse Brown (born February 22, 1971) is a former American football player. A nose tackle who played for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (1993–99, 2001–03), Brown played 125 Packers games (103 starts) recording ...

(born 1971), American football player *

Gilbert Brulé Gilbert Jean Marco Brulé (born January 1, 1987) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. Drafted out of the Western Hockey League (WHL), Brulé played major junior Junior hockey is a level of competitive ice hockey generally f ...

(born 1987), Canadian ice hockey player *

Gilbert Buatère Gilbert Buatère (c. 985 – 1 October 1018) was one of the first Norman adventurers in the Mezzogiorno. He was the eldest son of a petty, but rich, lord of Carreaux, near Avesnes-en-Bray in the region of Rouen. Carreaux gives his family, t ...

, Norman adventurer, one of the principal commanders of Battle of Cannae (1018) *

Gilbert Bundy Gilbert Bundy (1911 – November 21, 1955) was an American cartoonist and illustrator, particularly for '' Esquire'', ''Life'', '' Judge'', and ''The Saturday Evening Post'' magazines. He killed himself on the 12th anniversary of a deeply traum ...

(1911–1955), American cartoonist and illustrator * Sir

Gilbert Thomas Carter Sir Gilbert Thomas Carter (Sir Thomas Gilbert-Carter) (14 January 1848 – 18 January 1927) was an administrative officer in the Royal Navy and a colonial official for the British Empire. Starting as a Collector of Customs for the Gold ...

, administrative officer in the Royal Navy and a colonial official for the British Empire, administrator for Gambia, governor for the Lagos Colony, governor for The Bahamas and Barbados and governor for Trinidad and Tobago *

Gilbert Cates Gilbert Cates (né Katz; June 6, 1934 – October 31, 2011) was an American film director and television producer, director of the Geffen Playhouse, a member of Cates/Doty Productions, and founding dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Te ...

(1934–2011), American film director and television producer *

Gilbert Cavan Gilbert Cavan (died 1420) was a cleric based primarily in Galloway in the early 15th century, a servant of the earls of Douglas and briefly Bishop of Galloway-elect. His name is also written Caven, Cawan, Caben, with other variants, perhaps repr ...

(died 1420), Scottish cleric * G. K. Chesterton (Gilbert Keith Chesterton, 1874–1936), English writer *

Gilbert Crispin Gilbert Crispin ( 1055 – 1117) was a Christian author and Anglo-Norman monk, appointed by Archbishop Lanfranc in 1085 to be the abbot, proctor and servant of Westminster Abbey, England. Gilbert became the third Norman Abbot of Westminster to ...

(c. 1055–1117), Anglo-Norman monk appointed abbot, proctor, and servant of Westminster Abbey * Gilbert Cruz (born 1980), Puerto Rican professional wrestler *

Gilbert de Beauregard Robinson Gilbert de Beauregard Robinson, MBE (3 June 1906 – 8 April 1992) was a Canadian mathematician most famous for his work on combinatorics and representation theory of the symmetric groups, including the Robinson-Schensted algorithm. Biograph ...

(1906–1992), Canadian mathematician *

Gilbert de Chambrun Count Gilbert de Chambrun (1909–2009) was a French politician. He was a member of the French Resistance and he served in the National Assembly. Early life Gilbert de Chambrun was born on 2 November 1909 in Paris, France. His father, Pierre de ...

(1909–2009), French politician *

Gilbert de Clare, 1st Earl of Pembroke Gilbert fitz Gilbert de Clare (6 January 1148), was created Earl of Pembroke in 1138.He was called 'Strongbow' but his son Richard is much more readily associated with that nickname. Life Born at Tonbridge, Gilbert de Clare was a son of Gilber ...

(c. 1100–1148), Anglo-Norman earl *

Gilbert de la Porrée Gilbert de la Porrée (after 1085 – 4 September 1154), also known as Gilbert of Poitiers, Gilbertus Porretanus or Pictaviensis, was a scholastic logician and theologian and Bishop of Poitiers. Life He was born in Poitiers, and completed ...

or Gilbertus Porretanus (1070–1154), French scholastic logician and theologian * Gilbert Doucet (1956–2020), French rugby union player *

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette (6 September 1757 – 20 May 1834), known in the United States as Lafayette (, ), was a French aristocrat, freemasonry, freemason and military officer who fought in the Ameri ...

(1757–1834), French general and politician who fought in the American Revolution and was involved in the French Revolution * Gilbert Eisner, American fencer *

Gilbert John Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto Gilbert John Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto, (; 9 July 18451 March 1914), known as Viscount Melgund by courtesy from 1859 to 1891, was a British peer and politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the eighth since Cana ...

, British peer and politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the eighth since Canadian Confederation, and as Viceroy and 17th Governor-General of India *

Gilbert Franklin Gilbert Alfred Franklin (1919–2004) was an English-born American sculptor and educator. He was active in Providence, Rhode Island, Providence, Rhode Island and Wellfleet, Massachusetts, Wellfleet, Massachusetts; and was best known for his public ...

(1919–2004), American sculptor, educator. *

Gilbert Gottfried Gilbert Jeremy Gottfried (February 28, 1955 – April 12, 2022) was an American stand-up comedian and actor, known for his exaggerated shrill voice, strong New York accent, and his edgy, often controversial, sense of humor. His numerous r ...

(1955–2022), American actor and stand-up comedian * Gilbert Greenall (humanitarian advisor) (born 1954), UN Humanitarian advisor *

Gilbert Gress Gilbert Gress (born 17 December 1941) is a French football coach and a former player. He was the mentor of Arsène Wenger. Club career Gress was born in Strasbourg. He began his professional football career in the city of his birth with R ...

(born 1941), French football coach and former football player *

Gil Hodges Gilbert Ray Hodges (''né'' Hodge; April 4, 1924 – April 2, 1972) was an American first baseman and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played most of his 18-year career for the Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers. He was widely regarded as t ...

(1924–1972), American baseball player * Gilbert von In der Maur (1887–1959), Austrian SS leader and journalist *

Gilbert Khunwane Gilbert "Ghisto" Khunwane (born 15 June 1977 in Mmankgodi) is a male retired boxer from Botswana, who competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. There he was eliminated in the first round of the men's lightweight (– 60&nb ...

(born 1977), Batswana boxer *

Gilbert Levin Gilbert Victor Levin (April 23, 1924 – July 26, 2021) was an American engineer, the founder of Biospherics and the principal investigator of the ''Viking'' mission Labeled Release experiment. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1997, Levin ...

(born 1948), American conductor *

Gilbert Mamery Gilbert Mamery Riera (March 15, 1927 – March 30, 2003) was a Puerto Rican disc-jockey, musicologist, radio station owner, radio and television personality, marketing impresario and composer born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. He is the father ...

(1927–2003), Puerto Rican disc-jockey, musicologist, radio station owner, radio and television personality, marketing impresario, and composer * Gilbert Marouani (1933–2016), Tunisian-born music producer and agent *

Gilbert Melendez Gilbert Melendez (born April 12, 1982) is an American mixed martial artist who formerly competed in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is a two-time Strikeforce Lightweight Champion and a former WEC Lightwe ...

(born 1982), American mixed martial artist * Gilbert Daniel Nessim (born 1966), chemistry professor at

Bar-Ilan University Bar-Ilan University (BIU, he, אוניברסיטת בר-אילן, ''Universitat Bar-Ilan'') is a public research university in the Tel Aviv District city of Ramat Gan, Israel. Established in 1955, Bar Ilan is Israel's second-largest academi ...

* Gilbert Ouy (1924–2011), French historian, palaeographer and librarian * Gilbert Reaney (1924–2008), English musicologist * Gilbert Rozon (born 1954), Canadian impresario *

Gilbert O'Sullivan Raymond Edward "Gilbert" O'Sullivan (born 1 December 1946) is an Irish singer-songwriter who achieved his most significant success during the early 1970s with hits including "Alone Again (Naturally)", " Clair", and "Get Down". O'Sullivan's so ...

(born 1946), stage name of Irish musician Raymond Edward O'Sullivan * Gilbert Pena (born 1949), Texas politician *

Gilbert E. Patterson Gilbert Earl Patterson (September 22, 1939 – March 20, 2007) was an American Holiness Pentecostal leader and Pastor and the Presiding Bishop Prelate (Christianity), minister who served as the National Presiding Bishop and Founder of the Bountif ...

(1939–2007), American Pentecostal clergyman * Gilbert Stuart (1755–1828), American painter *

Gilbert Tosetti Gilbert Tosetti (1 August 1879 – 16 April 1923) was an English cricketer. Tosetti was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm medium pace. He was born at Bromley, Kent. Tosetti made his first-class debut for Essex against Oxford U ...

(1879–1923), English cricketer * Gilbert Tuhabonye (born 1974), American long-distance runner * Gilbert F. White (1911–2006), American geographer

Fictional characters

* Gilbert, a cat in the Canadian children's television series ''

Caillou ''Caillou'' () is a Canadian educational children's television series which aired on Teletoon (both English and French versions), with its first episode airing on the former channel on September 15, 1997; it later moved to Treehouse TV, with i ...

'' * Gilbert, an anthropomorphic globe from ''

Don't Hug Me I'm Scared ''Don't Hug Me I'm Scared'' (often abbreviated as ''DHMIS'') is a British web and television series created by Becky Sloan, Joe Pelling, and Baker Terry. The series is notable for its blending of surreal comedy and black comedy with psychologica ...

'' * Gilbert Bates, a recurring character in the television series '' Leave It to Beaver'' * Gilbert Beilschmidt, the human name of the personification of Prussia in the anime series '' Hetalia: Axis Powers'' *

Gilbert Blythe Gilbert Blythe is a character in Lucy Maud Montgomery's '' Anne of Green Gables'' series of novels. Character description Gilbert is described in the books as being very handsome with brown, curly hair and hazel eyes. He is tall with a lean build ...

, a character in the novel series ''Anne of Green Gables'' by Lucy Maud Montgomery * Gilbert Bougainvillea, a major in the Leidenschaftlich army from the anime and manga '' Violet Evergarden'' * Gilbert Cocteau, one of the main characters of the manga series ''

Kaze to Ki no Uta is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Keiko Takemiya. It was serialized in the manga magazine '' Shūkan Shōjo Comic'' from 1976 to 1980, and in the manga magazine ''Petit Flower'' from 1981 to 1984. One of the earliest w ...

'' * Gilbert Dauterive, the cousin of the Bill Dauterive in the animated television series ''

King of the Hill ''King of the Hill'' is an American animated sitcom created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels for the Fox Broadcasting Company. It aired its original non-syndicated run from January 12, 1997, to September 13, 2009, and centers on the Hills, an Am ...

'' * Gilbert Grape, the eponymous character of the 1993 film ''

What's Eating Gilbert Grape ''What's Eating Gilbert Grape'' is a 1993 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Lasse Hallström and starring Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis and Darlene Cates. It follows 25-year-old Gilbert (Depp), a grocery store cler ...

'' *

Gil Grissom Gilbert Arthur Grissom (born August 17, 1956), Ph.D. is a fictional character portrayed by William Petersen on the CBS crime drama '' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'' and its sequel, '' CSI: Vegas''. Grissom is a forensic entomologist and for t ...

, a forensic entomologist in the television series ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'' * Gibert Huph, a character in the 2004

Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...

Pixar Pixar Animation Studios (commonly known as Pixar () and stylized as P I X A R) is an American computer animation studio known for its critically and commercially successful computer animated feature films. It is based in Emeryville, Californ ...

animated Animation is a method by which still figures are manipulated to appear as moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Today, most ani ...

film ''

The Incredibles ''The Incredibles'' is a 2004 American computer-animated superhero film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Written and directed by Brad Bird, it stars the voices of Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah ...

'' * Gilbert G.P. Guilford, the commander of the Glaston Knights in the anime series ''

Code Geass , often referred to simply as ''Code Geass'', is a Japanese anime television series produced by Sunrise. It was directed by Gorō Taniguchi and written by Ichirō Ōkouchi, with original character designs by Clamp. Set ...

'' * Gilbert Markham, the principal narrator of the novel ''

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall ''The Tenant of Wildfell Hall'' is the second and final novel written by English author Anne Brontë. It was first published in 1848 under the pseudonym Acton Bell. Probably the most shocking of the Brontës' novels, it had an instant and phe ...

'' by Anne Brontë * Gilbert Nightray, a character in the manga and anime series ''

Pandora Hearts ''Pandora Hearts'' (stylized as ''PandoraHearts'') is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Jun Mochizuki. It was serialized in Square Enix's ''shōnen'' manga magazine '' Monthly GFantasy'' from May 2006 to March 2015, with its ...

Popularity

England and Wales England and Wales () is one of the three legal jurisdictions of the United Kingdom. It covers the constituent countries England and Wales and was formed by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542. The substantive law of the jurisdiction is Eng ...

, Gilbert ranked 64th in popularity in 1904, 72nd in 1914 and 95th in 1924. By 1934 it had dropped out of the Top 100.Popular Baby Names, 1904-1994 (UK Office of National Statistics)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilbert (Given Name) British Isles given names English masculine given names French masculine given names German masculine given names Dutch masculine given names Given names

Translations

People with the name

Fictional characters

Popularity

See also

References