Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Unflip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Unflip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

[ Baby Gertrude? ]

108 replies

Cinderella812 · 20/04/2019 16:08

We are to name our future daughter after my DH's grandmother, Gertrude.

Not a particularly pretty name in my opinion (so sorry if that offends some lovely Gertrudes out there!)

She went by "Trudy", which I think is sweet.

However, is Trudy enough of a first name in itself? Could we just name our daughter Trudy, or is that too nicknamey?

I'm thinking of her future career etc... and children whose first names are just nicknames can be harder to take seriously professionally, especially little girls.

Does anybody think Trudy is alright as a stand-alone forename? All suggestions welcome!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

FancyAPint · 26/04/2019 21:46

I'm a Trudie! It's really funny to hear everyone's thoughts on my name, I've always wondered what people thought of it, didn't think anyone really like it! So weird but nice to hear so many people say it's sweet or cute! (made my day actually!).

I hate it when people spell it with a 'y' (too common/like Judy or Tracey) but like it if they give it an 'i' (sounds more funky) or the actual spelling 'ie'. I do rather like Trude (pronounced Truda). I liked it because it was unusual but that was it really, hence why nice to hear the many positives takes on this thread! I always wished I was an Adele.

I am a professional and the only people that have ever asked if it's short for something (it's not) are older people of my parent's generation (I'm 46)

LynetteScavo · 23/04/2019 19:20

I went to school with a Trudy, and it's never occurred to me it could be short for something.

I quite like Gertrude, Gertie and Rudie.

But I think you should go with Trudy because you like it the most. It is a name in its own right.

aliasname · 23/04/2019 18:22

Gertie makes me think of the bridge that collapsed, called ‘Galloping Gertie’ you can find videos on YouTube of it - it’s incredible.

I had an amazing nurse named Trudy who once gave me intimate care when I was very vulnerable - for that reason, I love the name. She was an absolute gem.

Puppywithattitude · 23/04/2019 17:25

I know a Gertrude who is known as Gertie or Rudi , she is a teen and very funky.

Silvanna · 23/04/2019 17:21

If you really like Trudy go for it. However if there's another name that you would prefer, you shouldn't feel the obligation to name her after the grandmother after all someone has already done it with Isabella.

AWishForWingsThatWork · 23/04/2019 17:19

Gertrude is such an ugly name. And I had a grandmother by that name.

Have you considered 'Trude'? Prettier than 'Trudy'. Trude is pronounced 'TRUW-Deh'

HiHoToffee · 23/04/2019 17:16

I am Dutch and know quite a few Gertrude's/Gertruda's who go by the name Trudy. Most of them are in their 70/80's.
Trudy as a stand alone name is fine.

averythinline · 23/04/2019 17:10

I like Gertrude....Trudi/Trudy/Trudie is good too have known a few (mainly US - all fab, strong women)- Have a slight pref for Trudy spelling as a name but don't rule out the Gertie ...more interesting than the trizzillion Isabelle variations.....

PinkieTuscadero · 23/04/2019 17:09

I think Trudy is lovely actually. And I think you're very wise not to lumber her with the horror that is Gertrude.

rosyedith · 23/04/2019 17:02

Trudy is really sweet! Just go for that.

Original poster

Cinderella812 · 23/04/2019 12:52

I really like 'Trudy' as a name, but not Gertrude. If 'Trudy' is acceptable as a standalone name, and not too 'nicknamey' for her, then I love it!

I love the idea of naming babies after special family members. I think it's lovely for children to have that sort of link to their relatives before them. Better still if the relatives have nice names! I don't think I could, in good faith, saddle my daughter with Gertrude! Trudy, on the other hand, I am rather fond of.

OP posts:

Kokeshi123 · 23/04/2019 12:28

OK, fair enough. I still don't get why the baby HAS to be named after GG though. It doesn't sound like the OP is in love with either name.

Cbeebiesrehab · 23/04/2019 11:36

Kokeshi but it’s not adapted, OP said in first post that the grandmother went by Trudy.
Trudy is definitely acceptable as a stand-alone name, I love the nn Tru but unfortunately the Kardashians ruined that one🤨

seeingdots · 23/04/2019 11:15

Trudy is lovely, I'd definitely go for that on the birth certificate. Doesn't sound too nicknamey at all to me.

GlitterPixie · 23/04/2019 01:43

I know a very distinguished adult Trudy with a professional career. I usually think using the full name on the birth cert is preferable but not in this case as it’s not a fluffy little girl name like Betsy

Marcipex · 23/04/2019 01:12

I like Gertie and it's a shame it rhymes with dirty.
Do you like Gerda, very pretty and Hans Andersen. Avoids the rhyme and keeps the initial G.

Trudy is okay. There was a really nice one in my class at school. It's funny how these things influence us.

Pieceofpurplesky · 23/04/2019 00:31

Gertie is much lovelier than Trudy

Kokeshi123 · 23/04/2019 00:29

And to be honest, giving a baby an adapted version of someone's name really isn't much of a compliment. It's like saying out loud "Your name sucks."

Kokeshi123 · 23/04/2019 00:28

Does your daughter stand to inherit a Highland castle or something if she takes on GG's name? Sorry, but I find this so odd.

Bumblebeesmum · 22/04/2019 14:51

If you’re happy with Trudy then go with it - I don’t like it but tbh I don’t like half of what’s being chosen these days & im sure there’s no name everyone would like. Trudy just sounds like a name I wouldn’t choose whereas Gertrude makes me cringe. I love Theodora though so another shout out for Theodora with Trudy as the nickname

MollyYouInDangerGirl · 22/04/2019 14:37

I think Trudy is fine on it's own!

But in your OP you said you dont think Gertrude is a very pretty name, so why go with it?

pinkyredrose · 22/04/2019 14:31

why is it non negotiable?

florascotia2 · 22/04/2019 14:28

I quite like Gertrude. It reminds me of the famous mock-medieval painting and poem (The Blessed Damozel) by Dante Gabriel Rossetti:

" ....We two,’ she said, ‘will seek the groves
Where the lady Mary is,
With her five handmaidens, whose names

Are five sweet symphonies:—
Cecily, Gertrude, Magdalen,
Margaret and Rosalys..."

Trudy is fine; so is Trude (True-duh).

Original poster

Cinderella812 · 22/04/2019 14:05

Some great comments!

I'm sorry if I was not clear in my original post, but we will be naming her after DH's grandmother. That is not negotiable. Our daughter will also have her "own" name because nobody ever born has had her combination of middle and surnames. Definitely unique!

My question really was whether Trudy/Trudie was suitable as a standalone first name. It seems that many of you think that it is (and it is so lovely to hear from some Trudies directly!)

OP posts:

Cutcrease · 22/04/2019 13:54

Trudi/Trudy definitely the better of the two but neither are great imo. I’d not have wanted DD to name her girls after my DM because even my DM didn’t like her name. I’m glad and I’m sure my DM would be glad they have lovely names in their own right while their middle names are variations of their GGMs.

Unflip

1 2 3 4 5

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread