Berthold is a masculine given name of Germanic origin, composed of the elements beraht meaning 'bright' and hild 'battle'. This name was borne by several early medieval saints, including Saint Bertold of Metz (d. 705) and Saint Bertold of Liège (d. 1012), contributing to its popularity during the Middle Ages. In some cases, Berthold may also be a variant spelling of Betrand or Bertrand, which share a similar etymology with bear 'bear' and rand 'shield'. The name Berthold is associated with several notable figures throughout history, such as Berthold II, Duke of Carinthia, and Berthold Schwarz, a 15th-century German alchemist credited with discovering gunpowder. Today, Berthold remains a rare but significant name, carrying the meanings of brightness and strength into contemporary times.
"Interestingly, while there were no births named Berthol between 1918 and 1922, it did make a comeback in 1923 with the same number of newborns as five years prior."