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Bertha

♀ Girl

Pronounced BUR-thah /ˈbɜr.θɑ/Medium

Meaning: From Germanic beraht, 'bright, famous, shining'High

In 30 seconds: Bright and famous: Bertha is Germanic for 'bright, shining'. Stately, vintage, and warm (Queen Bertha; Big Bertha).

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Origin HighGerman

MeaningFrom Germanic beraht, 'bright, famous, shining'

U.S. rank (2025)#4569 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births30 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1918

Total births (all-time)≈ 207,837

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

Bertha comes from Germanic beraht, 'bright, famous, shining'. Borne by medieval queens (Bertha of Kent, Charlemagne's mother Bertrada) and the folklore figure Berchta, it's a stately, vintage classic.

It registers thinly today. Rare now, bright-and-famous at the root, and stately.

Did you know? Bertha means 'bright, famous, shining' in Germanic — borne by medieval queens (and the goddess Berchta); a stately, vintage classic ripe for revival.

Overall data confidence 82%

Behind the Name — Bertha — etymology

Variations

BertaBertheBertina

Nicknames

Bertie

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Bertha…

Gertrude— another Germanic vintage name

Leisha— echoes that soft -ha sound

Lennie— lands in the same popularity range

Gretel— the same vintage feel

Lenni— the same vintage feel

Explore names like Bertha

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Bertha mean?

Bertha is Germanic for 'bright, famous, shining'.

How do you pronounce Bertha?

It's said BUR-thah /ˈbɜr.θɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Bertha a boy or girl name?

Bertha is a girl's name.

How popular is Bertha?

Bertha is a rare name in the U.S. today.