Berta is a feminine given name used in several languages, including Catalan, Czech, German, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Slovene, and Spanish. It is a form of the name Bertha, which originated as a short form of Germanic names beginning with the element berht or beraht, meaning "bright" (from Proto-Germanic *berhtaz). Etymology The root name Bertha was common among early medieval rulers and saints. Notable bearers include a 6th-century Frankish princess who married King Æþelbeorht of Kent and helped convert him to Christianity. Another famous Bertha was the mother of Charlemagne in the 8th century, also known as Bertrada. The name was brought to England by the Normans and became popular, but died out after the Middle Ages before being revived in the 19th century. In southern Germanic legends, a goddess of animals and weaving is often called Perchta or Berchta, linking the name to folk tradition. Usage and Variants In many European languages, Berta is the standard form. Related names include French Berthe, English Birdie (a diminutive), and the original Germanic Berhta. Additionally, Berta is the name of a Nilo-Saharan ethnolinguistic group native to the border of Ethiopia and Sudan, and their language. This homograph is unrelated to the given name but derives from the group's endonym. Notable Bearers Berta of Kent (also known as Saint Bertha), a 6th-century Frankish princess and Christian queen. Berta of Tuscany (also known as Berta of Lotharingia), 9th-century noblewoman. Berta Rozsnaiova (born 1976), Slovak handball player.