Gilbert is a given name of Norman-French 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 was introduced to England by the Normans where it was popular during the Middle Ages. That is the reason the pronunciation Gil- [gil] reflects the Northern Norman one [gil], as opposed to Old French [dʒil] > French [ʒil] and explains the alternative spelling Guilbert with Guil- [gil].
Variant spellings have evolved throughout Europe, including the Romance language version, Gilberto, and the Latin version, Gilbertus. The diminutive, Gil, is popular as a given name or nickname. Gilbert, with variant spellings, is also used as a surname (see Gilbert (surname)).
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: Gilbert
Gujarati: ગિલ્બર્ટ ( Gilbarṭa)
Hebrew: גילברט
Hindi : गिल्बर्ट ( Gilbarṭ)
Italian: Gilberto
Japanese: ギルバート ( Girubāto)
Kannada: ಗಿಲ್ಬರ್ಟ್ ( Gilbarṭ)
Korean: 길버트 (Gilbeoteu)
Macedonian: Гилберт
Marathi: गिल्बर्ट ( Gilbarṭa)
Mongolian: Гилберт ( Gilbyert)
Nepali: गिल्बर्ट (Gilbarṭa)
Persian: گیلبرت
Portuguese: Gilberto
Russian: Гилберт
Serbian: Гилберт
Spanish: 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)
Gilbert of England or Gilbertus Anglicus (c. 1180 – c.
