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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Roberta (nn Bertie)

89 replies

periwinkle86 · 29/08/2021 10:19

DP and I have been discussing ways of incorporating his family into our DD’s name when she’s born (both middle and surname will come from my side). His late grandfather was Robert and we were initially discussing Roberta as a second middle name, but are now actually quite liking it as a possible first name.

She would most likely go by Bertie day-to-day. We had been looking for a traditional name that’s heard of but not overly used and has cute nicknames. DP likes the family connection and I really like the connection to The Railway Children.

I know it’s not a “pretty” name as such (though I’m not a fan of anything too frilly anyway) but I do think the cute nickname options soften it a bit.

Am I going mad and this is pregnancy hormones talking?! What do people think of the name?

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Scirocco · 02/09/2021 19:22

@periwinkle86 have you considered Robina? It's got the 'Rob-' to reference Robert, but it's maybe a bit more feminine than Roberta, if you're looking for that? NNs I've heard have included Robbie, Ro, Rina/Rena...

ILoveAnOwl · 02/09/2021 18:37

The Roberta I know is know as Bea and she's fantastic, which makes me love the name.

TatianaBis · 02/09/2021 15:43

Ie it's standard in other countries.

I much prefer that then giving girls boys names like James.

TatianaBis · 02/09/2021 15:43

If you speak gendered languages - many names have male and female versions of the same name.

JaninaDuszejko · 02/09/2021 15:06

Yes, it is a feminisation of a boy's name, but I don't think there's anything wrong with that personally

See also Charlotte, Caroline, Alexandra, Josephine, Paula, Nicola, Michelle, Cecilia, Olivia, Stephanie, Theodora, Georgia, Georgina, Danielle, Louisa, Philippa, Henrietta, Erica, etc etc.

LooseyGoosey · 02/09/2021 10:44

I love it! I think I'd go for Bobbie rather than Bertie personally though.

Yes, it is a feminisation of a boy's name, but I don't think there's anything wrong with that personally, and for me it doesn't say anything about whether you wanted a boy or girl. Also, what does it matter if people do think that? She would just be your little Roberta and her own person.

SunSeaSurfGin · 31/08/2021 23:42

I love love love Roberta and it's on my list. Although I prefer Bobbie to Bertie

Firebird83 · 31/08/2021 22:05

Roberta is great

HoldingTheDoor · 31/08/2021 17:00

Bertie is a lovely name Not common but really sweet.....I should know my son is called Bertie ....Why would anyone think it was horrible ?

It has a very unattractive sound imo.

queenatom · 31/08/2021 16:32

I know a baby Roberta - she is Bobbie for short.

Classica · 31/08/2021 15:57

I'd much rather be a girl called Bobbie than a girl called Bertie.

bert3400 · 31/08/2021 15:47

Bertie is a lovely name Not common but really sweet.....I should know my son is called Bertie ....Why would anyone think it was horrible ?

gunnersgold · 31/08/2021 15:43

Beatrix rather but both are lovely

gunnersgold · 31/08/2021 15:42

We had a dog called Beatrice and her nn was Bertie .. I love it !

riotlady · 31/08/2021 15:40

I really like it! Bobby/Bertie is cute for a child and Roberta is elegant and professional for any future career choices. Plus you have The Railway Children reference- I think there was a Roberta in the Mallory Towers books too?

WhyOhWine · 31/08/2021 15:34

I know a 3 year old Bertie. She is Alberta and plan had apparently been to use Alba as a nickname, but (in the way that nicknames can just develop ) she became Bertie. She is very sweet and it somehow really suits her, and i no longer think of her as having a boy's name, She does have options when she is older if she prefers, including full name, Alba or her middle name (which is a top 20 name deliberately chosen so she could use it if she preferred a less unusual name).

I also know a 13 year old Freddie (Frederica). Again, it is now just her name (rather than a boy's name) and she really likes it.

Dasher789 · 31/08/2021 15:30

I know a Roberta who gets called Bobbie as a nn.
I like both names Smile

Neither Roberta nor Bobbie are overly feminine but I can't get my head around Bertie as a girls name (likely not helped by the fact that the only Bertie I have ever known is a man).

I am not keen on Bertha or Martha

Musmerian · 31/08/2021 15:22

I really like Roberta and Bertie. Bertha is awful and makes me think of the madwoman in the attic in Jane Eyre.

jackstini · 31/08/2021 15:18

My Mum is Roberta, names fir an uncle that died in the war

nn was Bobby when she was younger and when she became an auntie and her nephew/niece were young and couldn't pronounce it

Could also have Roby as a nn

I like the Railway Children connection too

drigon · 31/08/2021 14:57

Quite like it with nn Bobbie

AnyaMoondial · 31/08/2021 14:50

I think it’s brilliant.

peaceinourtime · 31/08/2021 08:15

I'm not a fan of Roberta/ the nicknames suggested on the the thread. To me Roberta sounds like it belongs to a woman 60 plus.

TatianaBis · 30/08/2021 19:13

@DentonsFringeArnottsWaistcoat

I have a very elegant Aunt Roberta (whose brother is called Robert Confused - don’t ask Grin) and she goes by the name Bo.
What unbelievably unimaginative parents.

There was someone on here called Olivia whose brother is Oliver.

DentonsFringeArnottsWaistcoat · 30/08/2021 18:49

I have a very elegant Aunt Roberta (whose brother is called Robert Confused - don’t ask Grin) and she goes by the name Bo.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 30/08/2021 18:28

Roberta is okay. It's a bit unfashionable (like Edwina, Wilhelmina etc) so might be safer as a middle name but there's nothing wrong with it as such. Bibi or Robin are pretty nn's and Bobbi is okay. Not keen on Bertie - makes me think of "Dirty Bertie", perhaps cute on a little boy but not so much on a girl imo.