Roberta is a feminine given name of Italian origin, derived from the male name Roberto, which itself comes from the Germanic elements 'hrod' meaning fame and 'bern' meaning bear. The name Roberta was popularized in English-speaking countries during the 20th century, often used as a female equivalent to Robert. It reached its peak popularity in the United States in the mid-1940s, ranking among the top 100 names for girls during that decade.
"Over the course of nearly seven decades (1914-1990), Roberta saw its popularity peak during World War II, with over 20 babies named Roberta born each year from 1935 to 1943. However, by the late 1960s and early 1970s, the name's usage declined significantly, with less than 10 births per year recorded between 1968 and 1976. Roberta's total births reached 782 during this period."