Bert Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Bert has its origins in Old German, meaning 'bright' or 'famous'. It has evolved through various historical forms, including Berht and Bertus. While it lacks biblical relevance, Bert gained popularity in the 19th century and is associated with a friendly image. Notable figures with this name include actors and politicians.
The name Bert is most popular in Hawaii, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. 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, Bert has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Bert' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 208th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 278th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 390th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 597th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1449th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 5407th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 7029th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1824th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 3432nd out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 6304th out of 12526 names. Discover how the name 'Bert' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Bert"
Pronunciation
/bɜrt/
Origin
Old German
Etymology
The name Bert is derived from the Germanic element 'berht', which means 'bright' or 'famous'. It has been used in various forms across different cultures.
Meaning
bright, famous
Language Evolution
Berht (Old English), Bert (Old German), Bertus (Latinized form), Bertie (diminutive)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, often as a short form of names like Albert or Herbert.
Variants & Derivatives
Bertie, Bertan, Bertold, Albert
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Bert is often viewed as a classic and somewhat vintage name. It carries a friendly and approachable image, though it is less common among younger generations.
Famous People
Bert Lancaster (American actor), Bert Blyleven (Dutch-American baseball player), Bertie Ahern (Irish politician)
Explore More Bert Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Bert"
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 "Bert"
"Bert" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 208th of 7545 | 10,109 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 278th of 6773 | 7,624 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 390th of 7552 | 7,003 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 597th of 10718 | 2,942 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1449th of 16616 | 901 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 5407th of 24088 | 233 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 7029th of 23106 | 137 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1824th of 9107 | 371 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 3432nd of 9204 | 129 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 6304th of 12526 | 66 |
Regional Popularity of "Bert" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
12.78% 181st/1416 |
17.84% 246th/1379 |
10.52% 249th/2366 |
12.17% 139th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
15.46% 239th/1546 |
16.77% 261st/1556 |
13.22% 311th/2353 |
12.28% 190th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
15.76% 351st/2227 |
16.63% 404th/2430 |
15.18% 433rd/2853 |
11.53% 320th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
19.48% 572nd/2937 |
19.75% 688th/3483 |
18.31% 644th/3518 |
14.02% 567th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
40.05% 1476th/3685 |
44.20% 1978th/4475 |
32.85% 1706th/5194 |
28.00% 1769th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - |
67.40% 5030th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - |
57.33% 3598th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Bert" by Generation for Female 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) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Bert"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Bert" 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.