[ Baby Gertrude? ]

[Cinderella812]

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!

I agree - Gertrude isn't a nice name. But Trudy is really nice, and still gives a nod to Grandma. I only know one Trudy and she's a lovely girl so it has good connotations for me.

I don’t normally like nicknames as full names... but ... Gertrude is pretty bad and Trudy is sweet. I’d just do Trudy.

Go for Trudy or she may end up nicknamed Gert.

Or does DHs grandmother have a nice middle name you could use instead? Can you pick a name you actually like and want and use Gertrude as a middle name..
Or just don't name your daughter after her.

My great aunt was Gertrude. She’d be 120 by now! It’s not a nice sound. She was known as Gerty. Trudy is a perfectly nice stand alone name. I knew 2 at school so a bit of a 1960’s name but much nicer than Sharon or Tracy.

I’m not keen on Gertrude it’s pretty out there - Greta is similar and nicer?
Trudy is fine or you could consider having Trudy as a nickname - I’m sure there are lots of ways to get there but off the top of my head something like Theodora might work?

Just go for plain Trudy. Gertrude has not survived the test of time at all!!!

Just have Trudy,Gertrude is fucking awful sorry

I love Gertie as a nickname. Gertrude is a bit much though.

Trudy is a bit 1960s US housewife.

Gertrude is the comedy name I used to say I would call my daughter. Gertrude and Boris, my fictional twins.

Anyway, I think just Trudy is fine in this case.

Another way to use Trudy is to have it as a nickname of first & middle name together - something like
Talia Sadie
Tabitha Audrey

Thea Wendy

Maybe even Trudy for Dorothy - might be a stretch but no one will question it & it gives lots more options when she’s older

Definitely Trudy. Gertrude is awful.

I find Trudy clunky and ugly. It’s very 1980s
Gertrude is hideous.
Doesn’t your future DD deserve a beautiful name of her own, rather than an ugly ode to someone else that even her own mother doesn't Like? Can’t GM be honoured with a middle name?

The grandmother was 'Gertrude Isabella'. Of course, Isabella is a beautiful name with many more options, and far more "palatable". Hence why DH's cousins have already nabbed it! We are the only ones brace enough to go with Trudy...

I think Trudy on its own is a sweet name... I just wasn't sure if it was too nicknamey. It seems the general consensus is that it's okay on its own. I'm also glad that others agree that Gertrude hasn't stood the test of time (very polite way of putting it!)

• brave

I would poo-pooh the idea of namesakes, save that our son will be named after my grandfather (who was effectively my father), and DH's grandmother was an absolutely fantastic woman. Unfortunately named, but I cannot think of anybody better to name our little girl after. She was truly phenomenal!

Im always a bit surprised that a name like Gertrude ever was a thing!! It’s truly awful.

I do like Trudy. It’s sweet. I’m not sure about older, teenage and young adult Trudy, but by then one expects she will own her name! I don’t think anyone has ever got to teenagedom and thought ‘my name doesn’t work here!’ 😊

I am going to be the voice of dissent and say I don’t really see anything wrong without Gertrude, I like that it’s difference. It’s not really pretty, sure, but it isn’t bad either and certainly no worse than many other names. The nn Trudy is cute, but I would rather go with the full name for formal purposes.

I quite like Gertrude as the full name with Trudie as the name commonly used but I also get why Trudie is your preferred option.

Can't you have it as a middle name?
Am sorry I really wouldn't like it as a first name.

I had a beloved great auntie Gertie and actually love the name Gertrude, it’s different but not weird (in my opinion)I think if I had a ‘Gertrude’ she’d get called ’Trude’.

I used to care for a lovely Gertrude who went by ‘Truda’. She’d be 103 this year.

I like Gertrude a lot, it reminds me of the glamorous and talented Gertrude Lawrence. Trudie is a sweet nn, but Gertrude really is a lovely name.

You have to think ahead too, as much as you think it's a nice idea for grandma...would you be embarrassed shouting her name at playgroup/park etc?
I think when shes born it'll be 'aww a nod to grandma how sweet' but then that wears off and you have a daughter who no doubt will never forgive you for giving her such a name after someone she didn't know.
It hasn't stood the test of time therefore I can't imagine another child in her class with this name and I know I couldn't name my child something I know I could be putting her in the firing line for bullies
Please don't do it

I adored my grandmother she achieved amazing things but both her first and second names were frankly hideous she would turn in her grave if we used either. Seriously why? Gertrude is bad and Trudy pretty awful too. So many lovely names out there

I know a 40+ Trudy who’s in a very senior responsible job, it suits her and never struck me as nicknamey. I like Gertie though.