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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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NoWhey · 29/08/2021 10:56

Give her a name of her own. Can't stand this family stuff, so restrictive.

And Roberta is hideous anyway. Yuck.

M0rT · 29/08/2021 10:55

What about the female members of your DHs family? Any nice names there?
I like Roberta nickname Bobbie but Bertie makes me think of Bertie Wooster and Bertie Ahern, neither great associations for a young girl!

Kendodd · 29/08/2021 10:53

Strong vibes of ‘we wish she’d been a boy, ffs.’ Giving her a mans name with an extra letter shoved in. Why not give her a name of her own?

I wouldn't have thought that.

Original poster
periwinkle86 · 29/08/2021 10:53

Just to clarify, we’re delighted she’s a girl (would have been happy either way) - it’s more about trying to honour the specific person, though we could do that by having Roberta as a second middle name, which is still very much an option.

Thank you for all the feedback - it seems like Bertie is fairly robustly “no” and that Roberta with a different nickname is a bit marmite.

It’s quite different from all of the other names on our list so far (traditional but much more popular) so perhaps I’m allowing the fact that it’s less popular to cloud my judgement.

We’ll keep thinking!

OP posts:
Kendodd · 29/08/2021 10:51

I really like it.

When I was pregnant each time and we were thinking about names, my husband thought we shouldn't discuss our ideas with people and just tell them the name when the baby was born. I disagreed and thought it was a good idea to get more honest opinions from people on a name. You don't want to give a child a name everyone thinks is terrible.

NowEvenBetter · 29/08/2021 10:46

Strong vibes of ‘we wish she’d been a boy, ffs.’ Giving her a mans name with an extra letter shoved in. Why not give her a name of her own?

Run4it2 · 29/08/2021 10:45

I knew a Bobbie/ bobby short for Roberta - she's retired now - but thought it was a fabulous name and really suited her. Suits an adult woman as well as kid, and it's not cutesy pukey!

SpringSparrow · 29/08/2021 10:44

Sorry, I don’t like it. Really ugly sounding names. My dd has a traditional but pretty name with several nicknames but has always been called by the full version.
My friend always wanted her dd to have a name that you couldn’t assume the sex by and went for Francesca nick name Frankie.

theworldsbiggestcrocodile · 29/08/2021 10:43

Bobby is lovely

Rubytinsleslippers · 29/08/2021 10:43

The Roberta I know is known as Beanie and it really suits her. Not sure I would have chosen it but it is just her - and I like it on her.

User8765461 · 29/08/2021 10:43

I would expect most people to shorten Roberta to Bobbie/Bobby.

So bear that in mind as you won't be able to control your DC's nickname, no matter what you think now.

Original poster
periwinkle86 · 29/08/2021 10:43

Yes I like Robyn / Robin too (probably prefer it actually) but DP doesn’t like it unfortunately.

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Lemonlemon88 · 29/08/2021 10:41

I know a Robyn who Robbie or Rob which is very sweet I think.

HoldingTheDoor · 29/08/2021 10:40

No need. You're allowed to start your own thread. It's perfectly reasonable to do so.

Original poster
periwinkle86 · 29/08/2021 10:39

@HoldingTheDoor oops I’d seen the thread but had forgotten that Bertie was one of the nn options listed there. Apologies for doubling up!

OP posts:
takingmytimeonmyride · 29/08/2021 10:38

I know a Roberta called Bert. Suits her very well. Both names.

I like it, and also like the Railway Children connection.

Viviennemary · 29/08/2021 10:36

Roberta isnt very nice. Bertie for a girl. Shock awful.

daisypond · 29/08/2021 10:35

I like Roberta. Good, strong name, not twee. The Railway Children connection is a good one.

chouxfleur · 29/08/2021 10:34

I really like it, but with Bobbie for a nickname, not Bertie.

CorrBlimeyGG · 29/08/2021 10:34

It's one of those 'trying to be something you're not' names.

GintyMcGinty · 29/08/2021 10:34

If you like Roberta then call her that.

Why shorten it to a completely different name at all?

DoubleTweenQueen · 29/08/2021 10:33

Always loved Roberta - think it’s a strong traditional girl’s name. Would shorten to Bobbie, as others have said. Not sure about Bertie - but then it wouldn’t truly reflect the namesake if you didn’t use Bertie, so in that case think I would go for something else!

PearlyBird · 29/08/2021 10:31

oh well, I take it all back, maybe the ''urr'' sound is coming back.

I said to the poster considering Bertha that i couldn't think of a single other name with that 'urr'' sound in it.

Martha is quite like Bertha but the vowel is arr instead of urrr and that makes it so much better.

I found Rob too masculine for a girl and ''Bertie'' is just too ugly. It does have a Bertie Wooster unisex vibe to it but god it's ugly.

Attiladahun · 29/08/2021 10:31

I like Roberta and like Bobbie, Bertie, Robbie, betty as nn‘s.

Original poster
periwinkle86 · 29/08/2021 10:30

@ShingleBeach yes, she will - and her middle name will be from my family as well.

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