How Many People Are Named Gilbert?
Complete statistics for the name Gilbert: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Gilbert is a classic Germanic name meaning 'bright pledge,' and today around 63,099 people in the US carry it, making it genuinely rare at 1 in 5,230 Americans. It had its golden moment back in 1930 and has been fading ever since, so spotting a young Gilbert is a real novelty these days.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Gilbert carries a life-path number of 1, which traditionally represents independence, leadership, and the drive to forge your own path. People associated with the number 1 are seen as original thinkers who prefer to lead rather than follow.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 76All 130,571 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1930Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Gilbert Through the Generations
Gilbert tells a clear generational story in the numbers. Its peak came in 1930 with 2,138 births in a single year, and the name rode that mid-century wave for decades before steadily falling out of fashion. Of the 130,571 Gilberts born in US history, only 63,099 are estimated to be living today, which makes sense given how heavily the name skews older. A striking 74% of living Gilberts are over 60, and the average age sits at 76. Only 7,831 are under 30, compared to 96,985 in the over-60 bracket. That gap tells you this name never really got a modern revival. It's not just declining, it's declining from an already older base, so each passing year the total count shrinks a little more. If you meet a Gilbert today, there's a good chance he remembers the name feeling completely normal growing up.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Gilbert
Gilbert is a given name of Norman-French origin, itself from Germanic Gisilberht or Gisalberht. Original spellings included Gislebert, Guilbert and Gilebert. The first element, Gil-, comes from Germanic gīsil, meaning "shaft of an arrow" or gisal "pledge, hostage", while the second element, -bert comes from Germanic -behrt, short form of beraht, meaning "bright" or "famous". The name spread in France and was introduced to England by the Normans, where it was popular during the Middle Ages.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Gilbert's Germanic roots
📄 About the Name Gilbert
How Many People Have the Name Gilbert?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 108,832 people in the United States currently share the name Gilbert. That works out to roughly 1 in every 3,046 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.
Is Gilbert a Common or Rare Name?
Gilbert is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Gilbert Mean?
Gilbert means "bright pledge or shining hostage" and comes from Germanic origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 1.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Gilbert in SSA data, approximately 99% are male and 1% are female.
When Was Gilbert Most Popular?
The name Gilbert reached peak popularity in 1930, with 2,138 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Gilbert?
Approximately 108,832 people named Gilbert live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 108,832. That works out to roughly 1 in 3,046 Americans.
Is Gilbert a rare name?
Gilbert is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 3,046 Americans has this name.
What does the name Gilbert mean?
Gilbert means "bright pledge or shining hostage" and comes from Germanic origins.
Is Gilbert more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 99% of people named Gilbert are male and 1% are female.
When was Gilbert most popular?
Gilbert peaked in 1930 with 2,138 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.