Berta Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Berta is of Germanic origin, meaning 'bright' or 'glorious.' It has evolved through several historical forms, including Old High German and Medieval Latin. The name is associated with traits of brightness and fame, though it does not have biblical relevance. Berta gained popularity in the early Middle Ages and has several variants like Bert and Bertha. In modern times, it is seen as a classic name with a vintage feel.
The name Berta is most popular in Texas, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Berta has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Berta' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 668th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 718th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1212th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2116th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3988th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 8929th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 12858th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Berta' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Berta"
Pronunciation
/ˈbɜːrtə/
Origin
Germanic
Etymology
The name Berta is derived from the Germanic element 'berht,' meaning 'bright' or 'glorious.' It is often associated with the word 'berht,' which signifies brightness or fame.
Meaning
bright, glorious
Language Evolution
Old High German: Berhta, Old French: Berte, Medieval Latin: Berctha, Modern German: Berta
Historical Usage
Berta gained popularity in the early Middle Ages, particularly in Germany and France, as a result of the influence of various saints and noble figures bearing the name.
Variants & Derivatives
Bert, Bertha, Bertie
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Berta is perceived as a classic name with a vintage charm, though it is less common today compared to its peak usage in the 19th century.
Famous People
Berta Rojas, Paraguayan classical guitarist, Berta Cáceres, Honduran environmental activist, Berta von Suttner, Austrian pacifist and writer
Explore More Berta Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Berta"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Berta"
"Berta" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 668th of 9107 | 2,092 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 718th of 9204 | 1,812 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1212th of 12526 | 1,376 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 2116th of 19264 | 639 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 3988th of 27321 | 382 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 8929th of 35406 | 188 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 12858th of 30306 | 76 |
Regional Popularity of "Berta" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Berta" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
100.00% 1416th/1416 |
77.16% 1064th/1379 |
21.09% 499th/2366 |
64.80% 740th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
72.38% 1119th/1546 |
76.99% 1198th/1556 |
22.48% 529th/2353 |
51.33% 794th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
100.00% 2227th/2227 |
87.41% 2124th/2430 |
29.51% 842nd/2853 |
38.41% 1066th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
100.00% 3483rd/3483 |
36.47% 1283rd/3518 |
28.39% 1148th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
49.29% 2560th/5194 |
32.91% 2079th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
86.77% 4481st/5164 |
- |
87.11% 6501st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
100.00% 4487th/4487 |
- | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Berta"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Berta" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.