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HelpBertha
So, the last two books I read had characters named Bertha, in them. Unfortunately, both Berthas were not exactly likable characters (Rochester's wife in "Jane Eyre", and Mellors' wife in "Lady Chatterley's Lover"). I'm kind of wondering if Bertha was the go-to name for authors of a certain time who wanted to convey that their female character was unlikable. Anyway, it's mildly interesting to me, and I want to know what you think. What is your opinion of Bertha? Could it ever make a comeback? SHOULD it make a comeback? I'm guessing that will be an overwhelming NO, and I can't disagree with that. I think it is ugly, lol.
**Starfish and coffee, maple syrup and jam/Butterscotch clouds, a tangerine, and a side order of ham**
**Starfish and coffee, maple syrup and jam/Butterscotch clouds, a tangerine, and a side order of ham**
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I don’t like it. I don’t really know why but I’ve always disliked the name. When I was a kid my grandmother had a good friend named Bertha who everyone called Bert or Bertie. She was the sweetest lady and she asked us kids to call her Ms. Bertie instead of Mrs. R. Even memories of Ms. Bertie doesn’t make me like the name any better.
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I don't like it.
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Bertha I'd the most unattractive name I have heard.
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From a person who likes Gertrude, this is too much. It's irredeemably ugly IMO.
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Absolutely hideous. It’s dated beyond words, sounds like “burp” and is honestly just ugly. I hope it never makes a comeback.
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Berthe actually looks really pretty
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It's a god-awful ugly name, and it's dead because, you guessed it, it deserved to die. It's so awful that I would flat-out not believe anyone who claims they love it or that they wish it was their name or they'd like to use it for a future baby. I would consider them contrarian, like someone who would pour hot fudge sauce on egg salad and sit there eating it just because nobody else ever does that.
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I have a very weird soft spot for it. Yes, I kind of like it. Wouldn't want to be named Bertha or use it. But I'd be happy to see it more.
I have no idea, but I always thought that Bertha must have been considered to be attractive at some point. It used to be very common.
I remember reading "Emma" (I believe it was "Emma") and she named her daughter the French form Berthe and I was like :( :( :( WHY?
But I guess it could come back as well.
I have no idea, but I always thought that Bertha must have been considered to be attractive at some point. It used to be very common.
I remember reading "Emma" (I believe it was "Emma") and she named her daughter the French form Berthe and I was like :( :( :( WHY?
But I guess it could come back as well.
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I really can’t stand Bertha. There are a few old lady names I like such as Mabel and Pearl, but the B and the th in Bertha sound terrible together. It was also the name of Anne’s mother in Anne Of Green Gables. Anne hated her name so much yet she loved her mother’s name so maybe it was popular around then? I would rather be an Anne over a Bertha any day. It would be interesting if it made a comeback, but also surprising.
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My husband's mother was an Afrikaans woman named Bertha Maria; I guess they were family names (her mother, whom I knew, was Gertruida Susannah Maria but was always known as Dollie). She died when he was 5, and by the time we had our first daughter we wanted to use the names of both our mothers as mns, but Bertha was too much for us so we used Mary instead.
Her mother always used the Afrikaans pronunciation - BEARtah - but by the time she met my FIL she had switched to the English version.
Her mother always used the Afrikaans pronunciation - BEARtah - but by the time she met my FIL she had switched to the English version.
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It’s not a particularly nice name but not as awful as some people make it out to be sometimes.
I’ve met some Blerta, that’s a ugly-ass name IMO.
I’ve met some Blerta, that’s a ugly-ass name IMO.
This message was edited 8/14/2020, 11:00 PM
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Dang, Blerta is hideous.
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Yes, “Blerta” might sound unpleasant to English speakers, but I’m sure it’s lovely or inoffensive to Albanian ears.
This message was edited 8/15/2020, 9:10 AM
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I'm sure it is, and has a pretty meaning, but it's like nails on a chalkboard to my ears.
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Yes, I immediately think of the verb “blurt.”
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It’s Albanian, a lot of “Bl” names, I came across Bledar which is even worse. I’m guessing different sounds make a different impression in different languages.
This message was edited 8/15/2020, 8:08 AM
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Big Bertha
Is this a thing? I don't know why it comes to mind but it seems like people say something like, "That's a big Bertha!"
Is this a thing? I don't know why it comes to mind but it seems like people say something like, "That's a big Bertha!"
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I remember a carnival game that was a big woman with a huge mouth that you threw balls into and she was called Big Bertha.
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The original Big Bertha (in German, dicke Bertha) was a siege gun used by the German army on the Western front - France, Belgium - in the First World War. It was extremely powerful, and typically used against the buildings in occupied towns; not an anti-personnel weapon at all.
It's fascinating, how powerful alliteration can be. I think it was originally nicknamed Bertha after the daughter of its manufacturer, possibly Krupp? But, put Big with Bertha and it became immortal. When we got married, we bought ourselves the two-volume Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary and immediately nicknamed it Big Bertha.
It's fascinating, how powerful alliteration can be. I think it was originally nicknamed Bertha after the daughter of its manufacturer, possibly Krupp? But, put Big with Bertha and it became immortal. When we got married, we bought ourselves the two-volume Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary and immediately nicknamed it Big Bertha.
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I named a snowman Big Bertha two years ago lol. But the "big" part was because she was like 5'6" and really wide.
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sorry dont like it at all
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