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    The first name Bertram

    A boy’s name meaning “bright”, “raven”.

    Pronounced /ˈbɜɹtɹəm/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Bertram means “bright”, “raven”.

    From Proto-Germanic *berhtaz (“bright”) + *hrabnaz (“raven”).

    More names that mean bird, light.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 7 boys were named Bertram, making it the 2,952nd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2014, with 27 births (#1,035).

    01530 1996200020052010201520202025
    384
    babies named Bertram, 1996–2025
    #2,952
    rank in 2025
    2014
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Bertram with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Bertram at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 9 boys born in the United States were named Bertram, the 8,353rd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1923, when 228 were.

    0150300 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    7,955
    babies named Bertram since 1880
    #8,353
    rank in 2025
    1923
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Bertram in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    Bertran
    Catalan
    Bertrando
    Esperanto
    Bertrand
    French
    ベルトラン
    Berutoran
    Japanese
    베르트랑
    Bereuteurang
    Korean
    Beltrão
    Portuguese
    Beltrán
    Spanish

    Spelled Bertram in Danish and German too.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Other spellings and forms

    • Batterham

    Famous people named Bertram

    26 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Bertram Brockhouse
      Canadian physicist, 1918–2003
    • A. Bertram Chandler
      British-Australian science fiction author (1912-1984)
    • James Bertram Collip
      Canadian biochemist, part of group that isolated insulin (1892–1965)
    • Bertram Goodhue
      American architect (1869–1924)
    • Bertram Bracken
      American film actor and director (1879-1952)
    • Bertram Forer
      American psychologist (1914-2000)
    • Bertram Thomas
      Civil servant and explorer (1892–1950)
    • Bertram Macdonald
      British athlete (1902-1965)
    • Bertram Brooker
      British artist (1888-1955)
    • William Bertram Turrill
      English botanist (1890–1961)
    • Bertram Meier
      German bishop and theologian, born 1960
    • Bertram Boltwood
      American geologist (1870-1927)

    Questions

    What does the name Bertram mean?
    Bertram means “bright”, “raven”.
    How popular is the name Bertram?
    In 2025, 7 boys born in England and Wales were named Bertram, ranking 2,952nd. Its peak was 2014, with 27 births.
    Is Bertram a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 7,955 US babies named Bertram since 1880 were boys.
    When was Bertram most popular?
    1923 in the United States, when 228 babies were named Bertram, its highest rank at 394th.
    How do you pronounce Bertram?
    Bertram is /ˈbɜɹtɹəm/, 2 syllables.
    What are other spellings of Bertram?
    Batterham.
    Is Bertram also a surname?
    Yes. Bertram is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.