View Message

Bertha
So, the last two books I read had characters named Bertha, in them. Unfortunately, both Berthas were not exactly likable characters (Rochester's wife in "Jane Eyre", and Mellors' wife in "Lady Chatterley's Lover"). I'm kind of wondering if Bertha was the go-to name for authors of a certain time who wanted to convey that their female character was unlikable. Anyway, it's mildly interesting to me, and I want to know what you think. What is your opinion of Bertha? Could it ever make a comeback? SHOULD it make a comeback? I'm guessing that will be an overwhelming NO, and I can't disagree with that. I think it is ugly, lol. **Starfish and coffee, maple syrup and jam/Butterscotch clouds, a tangerine, and a side order of ham**
Archived Thread - replies disabled
vote up1

Replies

I don’t like it. I don’t really know why but I’ve always disliked the name. When I was a kid my grandmother had a good friend named Bertha who everyone called Bert or Bertie. She was the sweetest lady and she asked us kids to call her Ms. Bertie instead of Mrs. R. Even memories of Ms. Bertie doesn’t make me like the name any better.
vote up1
I think Martha is lovely so I should also like Bertha but some reason, it’s just not pretty. FWIW, I (being Danish) pronounce it BARE-ta.
vote up1
I don't like it.
vote up1
Bertha I'd the most unattractive name I have heard.
vote up1
I love Bertha but I prefer the German and French pronunciations. I could see it having a small rise in popularity but would be surprised if it got into the top 1000.Combos:
Bertha Rosemary
Bertha Delilah
Bertha Antonella Rosinda
Bertha Genevieve
Bertha Casper Kalinda
Bertha Zenaida
vote up1
From a person who likes Gertrude, this is too much. It's irredeemably ugly IMO.
vote up1
Absolutely hideous. It’s dated beyond words, sounds like “burp” and is honestly just ugly. I hope it never makes a comeback.
vote up1
It’s an antique!I appreciate it as a dusty antique. I agree that “BUR-tha” is a bit unpleasant, but I love how the name looks, and I’m fond of the German pronunciation. I also love the French Berthe.
vote up1
Berthe actually looks really pretty
vote up1
I knew a Roberta whose nn was Bert. I could have thought of other, better options, but I'd have stayed with Roberta actually.
vote up1
My great-grandmother was Alberta called "Bert". I've always had a fondness for it, but I admit it isn't what one might call pretty.
vote up1
Aw, Bert could definitely work on the right woman. I admit I have a huge soft spot for masculine nicknames on women (e.g. Bill, Tom, Eddy).
vote up1
It's a god-awful ugly name, and it's dead because, you guessed it, it deserved to die. It's so awful that I would flat-out not believe anyone who claims they love it or that they wish it was their name or they'd like to use it for a future baby. I would consider them contrarian, like someone who would pour hot fudge sauce on egg salad and sit there eating it just because nobody else ever does that.
vote up1
I hate -rth- sounds. I don't like those three letters bbn in Martha either, but Bertha is far worse. The German pronunciation is pretty though.
vote up1
I have a very weird soft spot for it. Yes, I kind of like it. Wouldn't want to be named Bertha or use it. But I'd be happy to see it more.I have no idea, but I always thought that Bertha must have been considered to be attractive at some point. It used to be very common.I remember reading "Emma" (I believe it was "Emma") and she named her daughter the French form Berthe and I was like :( :( :( WHY?But I guess it could come back as well.
vote up1
I really can’t stand Bertha. There are a few old lady names I like such as Mabel and Pearl, but the B and the th in Bertha sound terrible together. It was also the name of Anne’s mother in Anne Of Green Gables. Anne hated her name so much yet she loved her mother’s name so maybe it was popular around then? I would rather be an Anne over a Bertha any day. It would be interesting if it made a comeback, but also surprising.
vote up1
My husband's mother was an Afrikaans woman named Bertha Maria; I guess they were family names (her mother, whom I knew, was Gertruida Susannah Maria but was always known as Dollie). She died when he was 5, and by the time we had our first daughter we wanted to use the names of both our mothers as mns, but Bertha was too much for us so we used Mary instead. Her mother always used the Afrikaans pronunciation - BEARtah - but by the time she met my FIL she had switched to the English version.
vote up1
It’s not a particularly nice name but not as awful as some people make it out to be sometimes.I’ve met some Blerta, that’s a ugly-ass name IMO.

This message was edited 8/14/2020, 11:00 PM

vote up1
Dang, Blerta is hideous.
vote up1
Yes, “Blerta” might sound unpleasant to English speakers, but I’m sure it’s lovely or inoffensive to Albanian ears.

This message was edited 8/15/2020, 9:10 AM

vote up1
I'm sure it is, and has a pretty meaning, but it's like nails on a chalkboard to my ears.
vote up1
Yes, I immediately think of the verb “blurt.”
vote up1
I had no idea Blerta was a real name. I heard it in an SNL sketch and I thought they made it up just for that (unfortunate) character. Blerta is definitely a no. Gracious goodness. What a name.
vote up1
It’s Albanian, a lot of “Bl” names, I came across Bledar which is even worse. I’m guessing different sounds make a different impression in different languages.

This message was edited 8/15/2020, 8:08 AM

vote up1
Big BerthaIs this a thing? I don't know why it comes to mind but it seems like people say something like, "That's a big Bertha!"
vote up1
I remember a carnival game that was a big woman with a huge mouth that you threw balls into and she was called Big Bertha.
vote up1
The original Big Bertha (in German, dicke Bertha) was a siege gun used by the German army on the Western front - France, Belgium - in the First World War. It was extremely powerful, and typically used against the buildings in occupied towns; not an anti-personnel weapon at all. It's fascinating, how powerful alliteration can be. I think it was originally nicknamed Bertha after the daughter of its manufacturer, possibly Krupp? But, put Big with Bertha and it became immortal. When we got married, we bought ourselves the two-volume Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary and immediately nicknamed it Big Bertha.
vote up1
I named a snowman Big Bertha two years ago lol. But the "big" part was because she was like 5'6" and really wide.
vote up1
I don't like Bertha because of the "Berth" part. I do like Berta though, and Martha and Myrtha.(I can only think of one likable Bertha, Anne Shirley's mother.)
vote up1
sorry dont like it at all
vote up1