While that which we call a rose would smell as sweet if it were not called a rose, how about a Gertrude? Ever wonder what a name means or how it came about?
Getrude is of Dutch origin, coming from the Dutch words meaning spear and strength. So, Gertrude means spear of strength. This is a very old name, and goes back at least as far as the Middle Ages and was used for a Norse deity, and the greatest patron Saint of all, Saint Gertrude, the patron saint of cats. FYI, her feast day is also shared by a notable snake hater named Patrick, so next March 17th let’s switch things up a bit and celebrate cats instead of a legendary snake stampede. Gertrude was first associated with being the go-to Saint to ward off Rodentia and disease. During the bubonic plague this started her association with cats, since they were known to chase off the vermin that spread the disease.
Throughout history, Gertrude has been associated with strong and influential women who defied societal norms, displaying resilience and determination in their pursuits. Shakespeare even selected Gertrude to be the name of Hamlet’s mother in that happy theatrical romp.
But it looks like the glory days for this name have passed. It has been steadily declining in popularity since 1900. Lately Gertrude has been given to no more than 36 babies per million!
Other than the Saint, and Hamlet’s mom, probably the most famous Gertrude is the author Getrude Stein.
While that which we call a rose would smell as sweet if it were not called a rose, how about a Stephen? Ever wonder what a name means or how it came about?
This one is of Greek origin, coming from the Greek word “stephanos”, meaning crown” or “wreath” or “reward”, “honor”, “fame” or just about anything else you might want to ascribe to it. The most common variant is Steven, but the “ph” version came first. The Romans picked up the name and that is when the “v” variant starts to show up.
There are Stephens in the Bible, and it has been a very popular name for boys almost continuously since the Roman Empire. There was a disciple named Steven who helped spread Christianity in the Roman Empire. Unlike most names this old, Stephen/Steven is still going strong and is currently #250 for all babies born in the USA. The ranks of famous men with name include the 19th century politician Stephen A. Douglas, and the modern Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim.
