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 peaked in popularity during the early to mid-20th century, with over 300 births per year between 1935 and 1947. However, its usage has significantly declined since then, dropping below 100 births per year by the late 1960s and reaching an all-time low of 38 births in 2009. Despite this decline, there have been periods of slight resurgence, such as between 2014 and 2017 when it reached over 50 births per year. Overall, the name Roberta has seen a substantial decrease in popularity since its heyday nearly a century ago.