Roberta is a feminine given name of Italian origin. It is derived from the male name Roberto, which in turn comes from the Germanic name Hrodebert. The name Hrodebert consists of two elements: "hrod" meaning "fame" or "renown," and "berht" meaning "bright" or "famous." Therefore, Roberta means "bright with fame."
The name Roberta first became popular in the late 19th century when it was used by prominent families in Italy. It gained further recognition after it was used by Italian opera singers such as Roberta Peters and Roberta Alexander.
Today, Roberta is still considered a classic and elegant name, often favored by parents who appreciate its European origins and strong meaning. Despite its Italian roots, the name Roberta has been adopted by many cultures around the world and can be found in various spelling variations such as Roberto, Roberta, and Robерта.
The name Roberta has seen a significant trend over the past century and a half in the United States. Initially, its popularity was relatively low, with fewer than 50 births per year from 1880 to around 1930.
However, between 1932 and 1946, there was a notable increase in the number of girls named Roberta at birth, ranging from approximately 2,000 to over 4,000 births each year. This period marked the peak of popularity for the name Roberta.
The trend continued with fluctuations until around 1958 when the popularity started to decline gradually. Between 1960 and 1973, there were consistently fewer than 1,000 girls named Roberta at birth per year. This downward trend continued throughout the remainder of the century and into the early 2000s.
Despite its declining popularity in recent decades, Roberta is still a name with historical significance and has been given to over 170,000 babies in total in the United States since records began. It's fascinating to observe how trends in naming can shift and change over time, reflecting cultural shifts and personal preferences.