Gesine

Clunky Gertrude is heading towards obscurity in the US, but here's a variation that might intrigue - Gesine, also spelled Gesina.

Gesine comes from the same roots - Geretrudis - and shares the name's strong meaning. But Gesine has a smoother sound.

Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock has a sister with this intriguing German name for girls, Gesine Bullock-Prado, a baker and writer. Their mother, Helga, was born in Germany.

Pronounced guh-ZEEN.