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Girtha

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Girtha

Pronounced GUR-thuh /ˈɡɜrθə/Medium

Meaning: Girtha is most plausibly a respelling of Gertha, a short form of Gertrude, from the Germanic ger, 'spear,' plus thrud, 'strength' — 'spear strength.' The i-spelling is a folk variant; the root meaning follows Gertrude.Low

In 30 seconds: Girtha is a rare early American name, most likely a variant of Gertha or Gertrude, meaning 'spear strength' (said GUR-thuh). It faded by mid-century.

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Origin LowGermanic, English

MeaningGirtha is most plausibly a respelling of Gertha, a short form of Gertrude, from the Germanic ger, 'spear,' plus thrud, 'strength' — 'spear strength.' The i-spelling is a folk variant; the root meaning follows Gertrude.

U.S. rank (1959)#5809 ↘ Falling

1959 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1919

Total births (all-time)≈ 597

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Girtha appears in United States records from the mid eighteen-nineties and peaks around 1919. It reads most naturally as a spelling variant of Gertha, a short form of Gertrude, whose Germanic parts mean 'spear' and 'strength.' Folk respellings like this reached the registry easily in an age of by-ear naming. It was always rare, given to only a couple dozen girls a year.

Last recorded around 1959, Girtha belongs to a great-grandmother generation and has not revived; the modern ear tends to hear the word 'girth' in it, which limits its appeal. Parents drawn to its strong meaning would more likely choose Gertrude, Gertie or the smoother Bertha.

Did you know? Girtha most likely traces to Gertrude, a Germanic warrior name blending 'spear' and 'strength' that was once far more common.

Overall data confidence 40%

References - Girtha — Likely variant of Gertha/Gertrude; Germanic ger 'spear' + thrud 'strength'

Variations

GerthaGertrudeGerta

Nicknames

GertieGirt

Famous Bearers

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If you like Girtha…

Bertha— a like '-tha' Germanic vintage name

Gertie— the natural short form of the parent name

Martha— shares the '-tha' ending and era

Gertrude— the likely parent name meaning 'spear strength'

Explore names like Girtha

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Girtha mean?

It is most likely a variant of Gertha or Gertrude, from Germanic roots meaning 'spear' and 'strength.'

How do you pronounce Girtha?

It's said GUR-thuh /ˈɡɜrθə/, 2 syllables.

Is Girtha a boy or girl name?

Girtha is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Girtha?

It was always rare, given to only a couple dozen girls a year around the nineteen-tens and twenties.