Is this name too old fashioned?

[ForeverOptimistic]

Bertha. Is it due a comeback? Sounds a bit like Martha and Martha is very popular now. Do you think Beth could be used for short?

It is my late grandmothers name.

I don't know why but it feels like a fat girl name to me. No disrespect to your grandmother. I don't think it will come back but I suppose Mabel did.

it makes me think of the mad woman in the attic from jane eyre

it isn't a pretty name IMVHO

Big Bertha and Black Pudding Bertha immediately come to mind.

Hmm... I always think "fat" too even though my grandmother was not. "Big Bertha" rings a bell. Could Beth be used as an everyday name? Not even sure of the meaning of Bertha.

You would have to be fantastically beautiful or cool to make that name work. Mad woman point a good one. Bette?

Berthe is nicer I think. Pronounced with a hard t I beleive.

ForeverOptimistic if you like it then use it and your DD can make it her own. I was the first time a friend called her DD Martha (after her grandmother too, as it happens) but she is such a great kid and having subsequently met other mini-Marthas I like it.

Woodenspoon is right, - it was used to describe fat girls - "Big Bertha". But any name can be used tomake a nickname from so I don't think that matters. Look at all the generation of Richards who happily called themselves 'Dick' without raising any eyebrows. Most people described as a 'complete dick' were not christened Richard.

Bertha is vile. Really 'orrid. If it makes a comeback I'll be very surprised.

Wasn't that Grace Poole?

Point taken MrsMattie, but did you think the same about names like Martha, Beatrice and Florence too? 10 years ago they would have made me shudder and yet now I know quite a few little girls named Martha, Bee & Flo and I quite like them.

I don't wont to upset anyone but the name immediately brings to mind a fat, ugly women. Beth is much nicer imho.

Grace was her carer

Grace is a nice name as is Bette ,,,

ForeverOptimistic I still think that about Florence I'm afraid . Every time another friend announces the birth of little Florence I wince all over again.

It was actually my great grandmother's name, and my grandmother was Edith. Personally I'm not reviving any of my family names.

I know what you mean, FO, but I think some names are retrievable and others are not. For me Martha just has a different feel and sound and different associations. Someone was floating "Hilda" a while back and that to me also seemed not worth resuscitating

Oh thanks Ruby

Bertha is a terrible name, sorry.
There was a cartoon strip called Big and Bertha about a fat girl and her big black dog and that springs to mind.

I don't think I could use it if it conjures up such negative images for most people. I do love Beth but dh really doesn't like Elizabeth and our surname is too short for Beth on its own. I also really like Elsbeth but I was thinking it sounds a bit made up. I don't want Elspeth as I lisp when I say it.

I still don't much like those names, but yeh, I take your point. I still think 'eh?' when I hear of little Iris & Stanley up the road...

Do you reckon Trevor & Sharon will come back, then?

Bethany?
Bethan?

How about Bethany?

To be honest I'm sure you could get away with Bertha. To my ears it is a prettier sound than Agnes and look how chic that is (Ines on the other hand I love!)

Try typing it into babynamer.com and see if you get any alternatives that it could be a derivative of.

It's an American site so has all sorts of names that no-one else in the world would have heard of. I suspect you might well be able to come up with something from there!

Have you thought about

Agatha?

My parents and PIL were horrified when we called ds Charlie and thought we were joking as reminded them of a grumpy old chap at their bowls club! I do think Bertha has unattractive connotations whereas worst one could poss say about Martha is it sounds homely (is she kitchen goddess??) but I think it's lovely. Yes, Hilda Odgen associations not ideal!

Mrs Mattie - have a look at the Mums & Dads names thread. They are debating the relative merits of Trevor, Sharon, Nigel, Karen, Maureen etc.

x posts 2pt4kids

Bethany - no because of Coronation Street.
Bethan - I like very much. Is it pretty enough?