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Name Lineage

    The first name Norbert

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

    2 syllables Male

    Meaning and origin

    Norbert means “north”, “bright”.

    From Old High German nord (“north”) + beraht (“bright”).

    More names that mean light.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 5 boys were named Norbert, making it the 3,684th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2008, with 19 births (#1,242).

    01020 1996200020052010201520202025
    199
    babies named Norbert, 1996–2025
    #3,684
    rank in 2025
    2008
    peak year

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

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Norbert at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2024, 14 boys born in the United States were named Norbert, the 6,387th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1924, when 635 were.

    0350700 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    20,385
    babies named Norbert since 1880
    #6,387
    rank in 2024
    1924
    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.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Nicknames for Norbert

    • Nobby
    • Norb

    Famous people named Norbert

    54 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Norbert Wiener
      American mathematician, scientist in cybernetics and artificial intelligence (1894–1964)
    • Norbert Hofer
      Austrian politician (born 1971)
    • Norbert of Xanten
      12th‑century German bishop and founder of the Premonstratensians, Catholic saint, reformer, 1080–1134
    • Norbert Eder
      German footballer (1955-2019)
    • Norbert Nigbur
      German footballer, born 1948
    • Norbert Meier
      German football player, born 1958
    • Norbert Schemansky
      American weightlifter (1924–2016)
    • Norbert Hauata
      Football referee, born 1979
    • Norbert Leo Butz
      American actor and singer, born 1967
    • Norbert Haug
      German journalist and former motorsport manager of Mercedes-Benz, born 1952
    • Norbert Likulia Bolongo
      Congolese politician, 1939–2026
    • Norbert Jokl
      Austrian albanologist (1877-1942)

    Questions

    What does the name Norbert mean?
    Norbert means “north”, “bright”.
    How popular is the name Norbert?
    In 2025, 5 boys born in England and Wales were named Norbert, ranking 3,684th. Its peak was 2008, with 19 births.
    What are nicknames for Norbert?
    Common nicknames for Norbert include Nobby, Norb.
    Is Norbert a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 20,385 US babies named Norbert since 1880 were boys.
    When was Norbert most popular?
    1924 in the United States, when 635 babies were named Norbert, its highest rank at 212th.