Holding steady.
Popularity of Berthold since 1908
Babies named Berthold per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1919, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Berthold's real moment was 1908.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 90 |
| 1920s | 90 |
| 1930s | 55 |
| 1940s | 17 |
| 1950s | 10 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Berthold is a medieval German name that epitomizes the compound naming tradition of the early Germanic tribes. First recorded in the United States in 1908, it has never achieved widespread popularity, maintaining a stable but extremely rare presence. Its peak year was 1908 itself, with usage remaining consistently below 5 annual births for nearly every year since. The name's meaning, 'bright ruler', reflects the aspirational qualities that Germanic parents valued. While it never appears in top state lists, it persists as a classic choice for families honoring German heritage. Berthold's trajectory over the past century shows minimal fluctuation, cementing its status as a rare but enduring traditional name.
Berthold derives from the Old High German elements 'beraht' meaning 'bright' and 'wald' meaning 'rule'. It was a common name among medieval German nobility and appears in the forms Berchtold and Bertold. The name has been used in Germany since the early Middle Ages.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Bert, Berti
Variants: Berchtold, Bertold, Bertholdt
Sibling names for Berthold
Names that share Berthold's style, for a brother or sister.
