Of Germanic origin.
A German and English form of the Old High German name “Gisilberht”.
From the Germanic elements “gisil”, meaning “pledge” and “björt”, meaning “bright”, “shinning”.
St. Gilbert of Semrpingham was the founder of the Gilbertine Order, the only exclusive English religious order.
In the U.S.A., Gilbert was ranked in the top-100 names during the 1920’s and 1930’s.
It was ranked #960 in the U.S.A. (2016).
Alternative forms of the name are Gilberto, Guilbert, Gib, Gil, Gilburt, Gibby.
Feminine forms of the name are Gilberta, Gilberte, Gilly, Gigi, Gilbertina.
Famous bearers are Gilbert Keith Chesterton, Gilbert Ryle, Gilbert “Gil” Scott-Heron, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Gilbert Arenas, Gilbert Prousch, Gilbert Gottfried, Gilbert Stuart, Gilbert Roland, Gilbert du Motier.