Bertha
Bertha comes from the Germanic "beraht," meaning bright or famous. It was a common name among early medieval European royalty — Bertha of Kent, a Frankish princess, married King Æthelberht of Kent in the 6th century and helped bring Christianity to Anglo-Saxon England. The name has serious historical credentials. Bertha was the #8 girl name in the US in 1880, then declined steadily through the 20th century. By the 1980s, it was considered the quintessential comic "old lady name" — think of "Big Bertha" (the WWI German howitzer) and the comic-book character Big Bertha. The name became almost unusable for a time. What I find remarkable is how thoroughly Bertha was driven out by mockery. The name itself has a fine meaning and a long royal history. But the sound — the blunt "B," the "th" — feels heavy to modern ears. Bertha has been outside the US top 1000 since 1987. It may yet return as the vintage cycle reaches deeper layers, but it has more baggage than most. Bertha is a female name of Germanic origin that means "Bright, famous". Old-fashioned, solid, and a bit burdened by jokes. The name sounds heavy. Berthas tend to be steady. US #8 in 1880. Outside top 1000 since 1987. Well-known people named Bertha include Bertha of Kent (Frankish princess), Bertha von Suttner (Nobel Peace Prize), Bertha Palmer (socialite), Big Bertha (WWI howitzer). Common variations and related forms of Bertha include Berta (Italian/German), Berthe (French), Bertille (related), Birdie (nickname).