The Art of Literary Nomenclature

ORIGIN:
Diminutive of “Albert”, “Herbert“, “Robert“, etc., or of the feminine versions of these names — “Alberta”, “Bertina”, “Roberta“, etc.

VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
For girls: Alberta, Alberte, Albertina, Albertine, Bertina, Berty, Roberta, Tina, etc.
For boys: Abe, Al, Altti, Baer, Bert, Bertil, Berto, Berty, Brecht, Burt, Herb, Herbie, Pertti, etc.

REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Bertie Selwyn, one of Marian’s cousins, who knows all about the trick, in “An April Fool”, from Nora Perry’s A Flock of Girls and Boys (1895).

Tagged: 1890s, B, English