Gilbert
bright pledge (Germanic)
Gilbert is a english / other boy name in the Philippines. In the civil registry as of May 2021 it is number 76, with 104,097 records. It has 2 syllables.
Origin and meaning
bright pledge (Germanic)
Gilbert comes from the Germanic name Gisilbert, composed of 'gisil' meaning 'pledge' or 'hostage' and 'berht' meaning 'bright' or 'shining'. In the Philippines, the name became prominent largely through American English naming influences throughout the 20th century. It is consistently ranked among the most common traditional male names in the country.
Gilbert is derived from Germanic elements 'gisil' (pledge, hostage) and 'berht' (bright, famous). Introduced to the English-speaking world via the Normans, it entered widespread use in the Philippines during the American colonial period and remains a familiar classic name.
Name character
In the Philippines
Frequently shortened to 'Bert', 'Berto', 'Gil', or given the diminutive 'Gibo'. Often used as a standalone first name or in compound pairings like Gilbert John or Mark Gilbert.
Related forms
- Gilberto Spanish
- Gilberto Italian
- Gilbert French
- Gilbert German
Would your family give Gilbert?
Mark it if your family would give this first name. The count is for 2026 on this site. It is not the civil registry, and it is not babies registered in 2024. One browser can choose a name once in the year.
No family on this site has marked Gilbert for 2026 yet.
Gilbert with common surname pairs
Each pair is a mother's maiden surname plus a father's surname. The number is the sound-fit score for this first name.
Related boy names
About the name Gilbert
How do I use Gilbert with two Filipino surnames?
Gilbert is the given name. The full name is Gilbert + mother's maiden surname + father's surname. Score a pair from a combination page or the homepage search.
Is Gilbert a common boy name in the Philippines?
In the civil registry as of May 2021, Gilbert is number 76, with 104,097 records. That is not the 2024 birth list, and it does not say the name is a better choice. How it sounds with both family surnames is a separate score.