Thoughts on Bertha

[Godwits]

nickname Bertie, Thea, Bess?

Bettina?

Bertha is either fat, mad or a machine.

And you can insist all you like but you'll get it pronounced Bertha more often than not! Unless you actually live in Germany / Austria/ Switzerland!

The WWII German howitzer and the first Mrs Rochester.

(And even then when Jean Rhys wrote the ‘prequel’ Wide Sargasso Sea, she decides that her suspicious, unfaithful new husband Rochester is the only one who calls her the stuffy, respectable ‘skirts on the piano legs’ Bertha, when her real name is Antoinette…)

No.

And she won’t want to spend her whole life saying ‘actually it’s pronounced the German way…’

Thea is nice.

Beatrice
Bridget
Beth

Eartha

I immediately think of Black Pudding Bertha from The Goodies in the 70s 😂

It’s bloody awful, get a grip.

@Godwits

What about if I insist people pronounce it the germanic way: Berta?

Then spell it like this. Bertha - there is nothing good to come of naming her this.

Big Bertha… NO
If you want it pronounced Berta - the only option is to spell it it like that
Or call her Alberta

Its a dire ugly name. Please no.

@Godwits

What about if I insist people pronounce it the germanic way: Berta?

Then do Roberta nn Berta?

What's the appeal specifically of Bertha for you?

“I'd be genuinely furious with anyone who inflicted a horror like Bertha on their child.

I get that it's cool to use the less obvious vintage names, but some names are redundant for good reason. Because they're very fucking ugly.

Bess and Thea are both lovely names.

Bertha IS NOT.”

…. 1000% this. Please don’t do it!!

Roberta, Beata, Beatrix, Bethan, Briony, or similar are all lovely alternatives. There are thousands of German girls names that aren’t Bertha.

It's hideous.

What about Bertha, nn Bet?

I don't like Elizabeth before anyone suggests it. Too old fashioned.

Still no. It's just not a nice name, and will leave your child up for some horrible nicknames.

It’s ugly in the ear. Reminds me of burp.

I don't like Elizabeth before anyone suggests it. Too old fashioned.

And Bertha isn't?

Give the poor little mite a chance, OP.
Why are you so wedded to such a terrible name?

I had a friend at school who had Bertha as a middle name. She was desperate to get to the age that she could change it by deed poll. She found it deeply embarrassing and hated having to fill out anything with her full name.
Call your baby what you like, just bear in mind that they might hate you for it.

I never comment on baby names thread, but had to this time. Just thinking of this poor baby girl lumbered with such an ugly name. Please don't do it.

Awful, awful, awful. Please don't.

I'm not sure how Elizabeth is old fashioned but Bertha isn't? (I actually don't like the name Elizabeth much myself, so you're not alone in that.)

Bertha does make me think of Bertha Mason. I don't think it's hideous but based on this thread it does seem to have mostly negative associations, which would put me off.

If you want Bet, I would call her either Betty or Bette.

If you want the German pronunciation, but you're in Britain (I'm assuming), then Berta or even Bertah could work.

Awful and a prospective parent like yourself (if this is real of course) are the reason why there should be a government approved list of baby names like in Iceland 🤦‍♀️

It’s ok for a robot, not so much for a human baby (or adult for that matter).

Are you looking for a name that works in German and English? If so, there are tons of nice options. Bertha might work in German, but it’s brutally ugly in English.

I had a german friend at college who spelled her name Birte. That would sound the same without the associations. Ibet she always had to tell people how to say it though.

No to Bertha, full stop.

It’s horrible, no child will want to write it down however lovely her nickname.

If you want Bet, call her Bet.

If you want ‘Birta’ by sound call her that or any other name for which Berta could be a Nn.

Why so keen, OP?