Burt is a unique and distinctive name of English origin. It is derived from the Old English word "beorht," which means "bright" or "famous." The name Burt has been used throughout history, often as a short form of names like Beorthelm or Beortgar.
The most notable historical figure named Burt was Sir Burtonshanks, who was a knight in the service of King Richard III during the 15th century. However, the use of Burt as an independent given name is more common in modern times.
In literature, Burt has been used as a character name in several works, such as "Burt and the Beetles" by Stephen Cosgrove and "Burt's Way Home" by Janet Lunn. These examples demonstrate how the name Burt can add a sense of ruggedness or individuality to characters.
Overall, Burt is an uncommon yet appealing name choice for those looking for something different. Its meaning of "bright" or "famous" could suggest that Burt was meant to be a name with big potential.
The name Burt experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the years, with a notable peak occurring during World War I (1914-1918). From 1880 to around 1950, there were periods of moderate popularity, reaching over 100 births per year by the mid-20th century. However, since then, Burt has seen a steady decline in usage, with fewer than 30 births annually from the late 1970s onwards and only single-digit numbers in recent years. As of 2017, Burt was one of the least commonly used boys' names in the English-speaking world.