Bertha Colley

Name meaning, origin and global statistics

Bertha Colley — Germanic
222K People worldwide
United States Most common in
1970s Peak popularity
Gender
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Bertha Colley is a name that combines Germanic origins. The first name Bertha is a feminine given name of Germanic origin. Bertha is a female Germanic name, from Old High German berhta meaning "bright one". It was usually a short form of Anglo Saxon names Beorhtgifu meaning "bright gift" or Beorhtwynn meaning "bright joy". The name occurs as a theonym, surviving as Berchta, a figure in Alpine folklore connected to the Wild Hunt, probably an epithet of *Frijjō in origin. Bertha appears as a Frankish given name from as early as the 6th century. The monothematic Bertha as a given name may, however, not originate with the theonym but rather as a short form of dithematic given names including the "bright" element. The surname Colley: Angela Colley (born 1964), Gambian politician Anne Colley (born 1951), Irish politician David Colley (born 1947), Australian cricketer Ebrima Colley (born 2000), Gambian footballer George Colley (1925–1983), Irish politician George Pomeroy Colley (1835–1881), British general Harold John Colley (1895–1918), British soldier John Edward Colley (born 1948), original name of John Ford Coley, American pianist Joseph Colley (born 1999), Swedish footballer Kenneth Colley (1937–2025), British actor Kevin Colley (born 1979), American ice hockey player Lamin Colley (born 1993), Gambian footballer Linda C. Bertha is a well-known first name, carried by approximately 222K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Bertha reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Bertha

Germanic

Bertha is a female Germanic name, from Old High German berhta meaning "bright one". It was usually a short form of Anglo Saxon names Beorhtgifu meaning "bright gift" or Beorhtwynn meaning "bright joy". The name occurs as a theonym, surviving as Berchta, a figure in Alpine folklore connected to the Wild Hunt, probably an epithet of *Frijjō in origin. Bertha appears as a Frankish given name from as early as the 6th century. The monothematic Bertha as a given name may, however, not originate with the theonym but rather as a short form of dithematic given names including the "bright" element.

Surname: Colley

Irish

Angela Colley (born 1964), Gambian politician Anne Colley (born 1951), Irish politician David Colley (born 1947), Australian cricketer Ebrima Colley (born 2000), Gambian footballer George Colley (1925–1983), Irish politician George Pomeroy Colley (1835–1881), British general Harold John Colley (1895–1918), British soldier John Edward Colley (born 1948), original name of John Ford Coley, American pianist Joseph Colley (born 1999), Swedish footballer Kenneth Colley (1937–2025), British actor Kevin Colley (born 1979), American ice hockey player Lamin Colley (born 1993), Gambian footballer Linda C.

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Geographic Distribution

The first name Bertha is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 51%
United Kingdom 27%
Australia 12%
Canada 10%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Bertha by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s
1910s
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
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Notable People Named Bertha Colley

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Bertha Colley:

9
Expression Number

Compassion and humanitarianism. A generous, idealistic nature with a sincere desire to improve the world.

8
Soul Urge Number

Ambition and material success. Represents power, business acumen and the drive to achieve significant goals.

1
Personality Number

Leadership and independence. This number suggests a self-reliant, ambitious and pioneering personality that forges its own path.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Bertha?
The first name Bertha originates from Germanic. Bertha is a female Germanic name, from Old High German berhta meaning "bright one". It was usually a short form of Anglo Saxon names Beorhtgifu meaning "bright gift" or Beorhtwynn meaning "bright joy". The name occurs as a theonym, surviving as Berchta, a figure in Alpine folklore connected to the Wild Hunt, probably an epithet of *Frijjō in origin. Bertha appears as a Frankish given name from as early as the 6th century. The monothematic Bertha as a given name may, however, not originate with the theonym but rather as a short form of dithematic given names including the "bright" element.
When was Bertha most popular?
The name Bertha reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Colley?
The surname Colley originates from Irish. Angela Colley (born 1964), Gambian politician Anne Colley (born 1951), Irish politician David Colley (born 1947), Australian cricketer Ebrima Colley (born 2000), Gambian footballer George Colley (1925–1983), Irish politician George Pomeroy Colley (1835–1881), British general Harold John Colley (1895–1918), British soldier John Edward Colley (born 1948), original name of John Ford Coley, American pianist Joseph Colley (born 1999), Swedish footballer Kenneth Colley (1937–2025), British actor Kevin Colley (born 1979), American ice hockey player Lamin Colley (born 1993), Gambian footballer Linda C.
What are the origins of the name Bertha Colley?
The name Bertha Colley combines two different traditions: the first name Bertha has Germanic roots, while the surname Colley originates from Irish.
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