Holding steady.
Popularity of Gertha since 1883
Babies named Gertha per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1921, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Gertha's real moment was 1906.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 29 |
| 1890s | 78 |
| 1900s | 155 |
| 1910s | 359 |
| 1920s | 426 |
| 1930s | 289 |
| 1940s | 248 |
| 1950s | 159 |
| 1960s | 44 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Gertha is a rare feminine name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1883, during an era when elaborate '-a' and '-tha' endings were fashionable for girls. It reached its peak popularity in 1906, though it never broke into the top 1,000 names. The name's trajectory has been stable at very low usage since the early 20th century. While its exact origin is debated, it likely derives from the masculine Garth or from Gertrude. Gertha remains a distinctive choice for parents seeking a turn-of-the-century revival name with a soft, vintage sound.
Gertha is a 19th-century feminine coinage, likely derived from the masculine name Garth, which comes from Old Norse garðr meaning 'enclosed yard' or 'garden'. Alternatively, it may be a variant of Gerta, a short form of Gertrude (from Germanic 'spear' and 'strength'). The name saw modest use in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Gerry
Sibling names for Gertha
Names that share Gertha's style, for a brother or sister.
