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Baby names

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

Is this name too old fashioned?

42 replies

ForeverOptimistic · 24/02/2009 13:00

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.

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woodenspoon2 · 24/02/2009 13:01

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.

rubyslippers · 24/02/2009 13:02

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

it isn't a pretty name IMVHO

Tinker · 24/02/2009 13:04

Big Bertha and Black Pudding Bertha immediately come to mind.

ForeverOptimistic · 24/02/2009 13:06

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.

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woodenspoon2 · 24/02/2009 13:07

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

OrmIrian · 24/02/2009 13:07

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

LuLuBai · 24/02/2009 13:08

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.

MrsMattie · 24/02/2009 13:09

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

Flightattendant27 · 24/02/2009 13:11

Wasn't that Grace Poole?

ForeverOptimistic · 24/02/2009 13:11

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.

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pinkmagic1 · 24/02/2009 13:12

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

rubyslippers · 24/02/2009 13:12

Grace was her carer

Grace is a nice name as is Bette ,,,

LuLuBai · 24/02/2009 13:14

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.

woodenspoon2 · 24/02/2009 13:15

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

Flightattendant27 · 24/02/2009 13:16

Oh thanks Ruby

LinneyTuckandMingMingToo · 24/02/2009 13:16

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.

ForeverOptimistic · 24/02/2009 13:17

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.

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MrsMattie · 24/02/2009 13:19

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?

2pt4kids · 24/02/2009 13:19

Bethany?
Bethan?

LuLuBai · 24/02/2009 13:20

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!)

womblingfree · 24/02/2009 13:20

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!

PestoMonster · 24/02/2009 13:20

Have you thought about

Agatha?

permatired · 24/02/2009 13:20

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!

LuLuBai · 24/02/2009 13:21

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

ForeverOptimistic · 24/02/2009 13:22

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

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