The spelling of the word "Gert" sounds straightforward. However, the phonetic transcription reveals a different story. IPA transcription for "Gert" is /ɡɜːrt/. The first phoneme is a voiced velar plosive /ɡ/, followed by a mid-central vowel /ɜː/. The final consonant is a retroflex approximant /r/ and the vowel is pronounced for a longer time. The spelling of "Gert" may be deceptive, but its phonetics makes it unmistakable.
The name "Gert" is a shortened form or variant of the given name Gertrude. The name Gertrude has Germanic origins and is derived from the Old High German name "Geretrudis", which is composed of the elements "ger" meaning "spear" and "trud" meaning "strength" or "maiden". The name Gertrude was popularized by Saint Gertrude of Nivelles, a 7th-century Frankish abbess. Over time, "Gertrude" was shortened to "Gert", which became an independent name in its own right.