Origin, Meaning, And History Of Bertha
Bertha is an ancient Germanic feminine name derived from the Old High German word ‘beraht,’ which means ‘bright,’ ‘magnificent,’ ‘luminous,’ or ‘famous.’ It was commonly used as a shortened version of Anglo-Saxon names, such as ‘Beorht Gifu’ or ‘Beorht Wynn,’ which respectively mean ‘bright gift’ or ‘bright pleasure.’
The name exists as Berchta, a deity associated with the Wild Hunt in Alpine legend, and likely derived from the name Frijjo. Bertha appeared as a Frankish given name as early as the sixth century. The Teutonic goddess Berchta, whose name came from Norse mythology, was venerated by pre-Christian Germans in the southern Bavarian Alps. Initially, Frau Berchta was considered a lovely and kind spirit, but with the advent of Christianity, she was demonized and grew old as the patroness of witches. In legends of southern Germany, the name spelled Berchta belongs to a goddess of animals and weaving.
Saint Bertha of Kent, a Frankish princess, played a significant role in introducing Christianity to the Anglo-Saxons through her planned marriage to a powerful pagan King of England. This demonstrates that the name Bertha has a long history of use among Germanic peoples. Throughout the Medieval Ages, Bertha was a common choice as a name for girls, but it almost vanished later on. The name was revived once more in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but it has since lost its popularity. The popular nicknames for this name are Bert, Berta, and Bertie.
The Big Bertha artillery from World War I inspired the moniker Bertha for several huge machines. In the book The House of Mirth,Bertha Dorsetis a fictional character who appears as a high society matron whose husband George is very affluent. The House of Mirth is a 1905 book by American novelist Edith Wharton.Big Berthais a superhero in the Marvel Comics universe.
How To Pronounce Bertha?
Famous People With The Name Bertha
- Bertha M. WilsonAmerican dramatist, critic, and actress, best-known for her original drills, tableaux, pantomimes, plays, farces and costume monologues for platform and stage.
- Bertha Louise Townsend ToulminAmerican tennis player, well-known for inventing the under-hand technique and earning a place in the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1974.
- Bertha Sophie Felicitas FreifrauAustrian-Bohemian pacifist and novelist, known for being the second female Nobel laureate and was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize.
- Bertha KalichUkrainian-Jewish-American actress of the ‘Golden Age’, best-known for her films like The Bomb Boy, Slander. Ambition etc.
- Bertha Ethel Knight LandesFirst American female mayor of Seattle, Washington from 1926 to 1928.
Bertha On The Popularity Chart
The name Bertha has been declining in popularity since the 90s. Take a look at the graphs below to understand this better.
Popularity Over Time
In 1981, the name Bertha rose to its peak popularity with 209 babies per million given this name. However, its popularity has declined since then and in 2021, only 25 babies per million were given this name.
Rank Over Time
Bertha was among the top 1000 names till 1985. Since then, the name has been going down in ranking.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Bertha
If you are looking for more names that sound like Bertha, here are some suggestions.
Popular Sibling Names For Bertha
Other Popular Names Beginning With B
Names With Similar Meaning As Bertha
If you want a name that means the same as Bertha but sounds different? Take a look at the options listed below.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
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In Sign Language
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In Braille Alphabet
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In Morse Code
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Name Numerology For Bertha
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Bertha ?
The name bertha means and Bright
2. What is the origin of the name Bertha?
Bertha originates from the German word .
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