Given name & surname
Roberta
“one who is bright with fame”
In English use, Roberta is a feminine form of Robert. One German interpretation is “one who is bright with fame.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Roberta carries the interpretation “one who is bright with fame.” In English use, Roberta is a feminine form of Robert. One German interpretation is “one who is bright with fame.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
Roberta is used as a feminine counterpart of Robert.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Roberta is a feminine form of Robert. The history of Robert gives this family its wider story. Robert’s historical associations include three kings of Scotland, notably Robert the Bruce.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Roberta through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 172,330
- 782 boys · 171,548 girls
- Most popular year
- 1953
- 4,310 babies
- 2025
- 61
- #2,809 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +10%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 61 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,809 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 9.9% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 4,299 in 1953. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (22). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 104,467 as a first name in 2020; 272 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Roberta’s family of names
In English usage, Roberta has a diminutive in Bobby. Roberta is a feminine form of Robert. Roberta has a related form in Robbie.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Roberta has relatives in 6 languages. Lines run from its English roots to each of them.
Nicknames & forms 28
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Bobbydiminutive · English
- Robbiediminutive · English
- Bobbidiminutive · English
- Bobbiediminutive · English
- Robbydiminutive · English
- Robbidiminutive · English
- Roberttalikely variant
- Robertiavariant
Show 20 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 6
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Roberta
- Joni MitchellCanadian musicianborn 1943
- Roberta MetsolaPresident of the European Parliament since 2022 (born 1979)
- Roberta FlackAmerican singer (1937–2025)
- Roberta BondarCanadian astronautborn 1945
- Roberta VinciItalian female tennis playerborn 1983
- Roberta WilliamsAmerican video game designer (b. 1953)
- Betty CurtisItalian singer (1936–2006)
- Roberta PinottiItalian politicianborn 1961
- Roberta PetersAmerican operatic soprano (1930-2017)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Roberta, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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“resembling the graceful rose”
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