Bertil is a Swedish name of German origin. It is derived from the Germanic name Berthold, which is composed of the elements "berht" meaning "bright" or "famous," and "hild" meaning "battle." Therefore, Bertil's meaning can be interpreted as "bright in battle."
The name Berthold was introduced to Sweden by early German settlers. It was later adapted into Swedish as Bertil over time. In Sweden, Bertil has been a popular given name for boys since the late 19th century. Some notable figures with the name include Bertil Ohlin, a Swedish economist and politician who served as the Minister of Finance from 1926 to 1928, and Bertil Johansson, a Swedish long-distance runner who competed in the 5000 meters at the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Bertil has also gained international recognition due to its use by the Swedish royal family. Prince Bertil of Sweden was the younger brother of King Gustaf VI Adolf and served as a military officer during World War II. He later became the commander-in-chief of the Swedish Air Force from 1957 until his death in 1997.
In popular culture, Bertil has been used as a character name in several works, such as "Bertil" by Swedish author Peder Bergman and the Swedish film "Bert – Den sjunde kungen av Sverige" (Bert - The Seventh King of Sweden), which is based on Bergman's novel. Today, Bertil remains a beloved name in Sweden and beyond, carrying with it a rich history and strong associations with Sweden's royal family and cultural heritage.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Bertil experienced varying popularity over several decades in the United States.
From 1912 to 1936, there were consistent births registered with the name Bertil each year, with a peak of 31 births in 1914. The name's popularity seemed to decline gradually after this period, with fewer than 20 births per year from 1918 onwards.
There was a brief resurgence in the mid-1930s, with more than 10 births each year between 1934 and 1936. However, this trend did not continue into the following decades, as there were fewer than 10 births per year from 1937 to 1948.
In total, over these years, there were 482 births registered with the name Bertil in the United States. While the popularity of the name has varied over time, it remains a part of American naming history.