Gilbert
bright pledge (Germanic)
Gilbert is a english / other boy name in the Philippines. PSA rank #76 (104,097 records), 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
Gilbert with popular surnames
How the first name sits with a mother's maiden surname and father's surname.
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?
PSA rank #76 describes how often this given name appears in Philippine records — not whether it is a better name. Fit with both family surnames still matters more for the birth certificate.