Bertil is a Swedish name of German origin. It is derived from the Germanic name Berthold, which is composed of the elements "berht" meaning "bright" or "famous," and "hild" meaning "battle." Therefore, Bertil's meaning can be interpreted as "bright in battle."
The name Berthold was introduced to Sweden by early German settlers. It was later adapted into Swedish as Bertil over time. In Sweden, Bertil has been a popular given name for boys since the late 19th century. Some notable figures with the name include Bertil Ohlin, a Swedish economist and politician who served as the Minister of Finance from 1926 to 1928, and Bertil Johansson, a Swedish long-distance runner who competed in the 5000 meters at the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Bertil has also gained international recognition due to its use by the Swedish royal family. Prince Bertil of Sweden was the younger brother of King Gustaf VI Adolf and served as a military officer during World War II. He later became the commander-in-chief of the Swedish Air Force from 1957 until his death in 1997.
In popular culture, Bertil has been used as a character name in several works, such as "Bertil" by Swedish author Peder Bergman and the Swedish film "Bert – Den sjunde kungen av Sverige" (Bert - The Seventh King of Sweden), which is based on Bergman's novel. Today, Bertil remains a beloved name in Sweden and beyond, carrying with it a rich history and strong associations with Sweden's royal family and cultural heritage.
The name Bertil experienced a peak in popularity during the early 1910s with over 30 births recorded in some years. However, it saw a significant decline after the late 1930s, with fewer than 10 births per year from 1940 onwards. Despite this decrease in usage, Bertil still had over 480 births recorded over the span of these statistics.