Coat of arms of Albert, Prince Consort; Image via Wikipedia
He’s a prince consort, a popular song, a punchline, and a genius.
Thanks to Jenna for suggesting Albert as our Baby Name of the Day.
Albert was once the most ordinary of names for a son, akin to Josh or Matthew today. He appeared in the US Top 20 into the 1920s, and the Top 100 right through 1961. You may very well have an Uncle Albert. Even if you don’t, it still sounds right. In Mary Poppins, it was Uncle Albert who hosted a laughter-induced mid-air tea party. Paul McCartney scored a #1 hit with “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” in 1971. McCartney did, indeed, have a real life Uncle Albert.
Albert has a long history of use. He traces his roots to two names: the German Adalbert, from adal – noble, and behrt – bright, as well as the Old English Aethelbert, composed of similar elements. Three saints answered to the name before the year 1000. Medieval Europe also gave us:
- A string of Austrian Dukes and one German King;
- Historian Albert of Aachen, who recorded the events of the First Crusade;
- At least two distinguished bishops;
- An assortment of Margraves and Princes, as well as a Swedish King.
While European families were big on Albert for centuries, he’s a rarity in English until the future Queen Victoria married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. It’s a fascinating tale – an 18 year old queen, cousins who ended up a love match, an unpopular foreign prince who won the respect of his adopted country, a long mourning following his death. That’s his coat of arms pictured above.
Two of Albert’s grandsons shared his name, as did many other notables:
- Albert Einstein escaped Nazi Germany and discovered the theory of relativity;
- French author and philosopher Albert Camus won the 1957 Nobel Prize for Literature;
- Legendary blues musicians Albert Collins and Albert King.
The last two take some of the British gentleman vibe away from Albert. So does current St. Louis Cardinals first baseman and three-time Major League Baseball MVP Albert Pujols.
A trio of World War I battles took place in Albert, a town in the Somme department of France, over the course of four years. You’ll also find Albert on the map in the US and elsewhere, including Belize.
Some of Albert’s quirkier uses include:
- Albert Heijn is a large, upscale grocery store in the Netherlands;
- The Florida Gators’ mascots are Albert and Alberta Gator;
- In the 1920s, you could drive an Albert, a short-lived British automobile company;
- Prince Albert was a popular type of tobacco, and the reason for the prank call “Do you have Prince Albert in a can? Then you better let him out!”
- Hey, hey, hey, don’t forget Bill Cosby’s 1970s cartoon series Fat Albert.
Nickname Bertie feels just right with the current British craze for short forms like Alfie. There’s also Albie, as in fictional bad guy Alby Grant from HBO’s Big Love. And don’t count out Al. With boys answering to Gus and Hank, Al might sound just right on a boy, too.
Can Albert make a comeback? At #404 in 2009, he’s clearly out of favor. But his credentials as a classic suggest he’ll hang on.
I love Albert. I see it as an underused Victorian classic. I used to think it was so handsome… That is until my cousin brought home her balding, creepy, forty-something year old boyfriend named Albert. Now instead of a Victorian hero, I see him. Le sigh. Albert has been ruined.
I really like Albert and the nickname Alby.
Little House on the Prairie’s Albert slightly cools my adore, but Colin Firth’s portrayal of George VI trumps an annoying child actor.
I love this name, but I don’t think my husband would go for it if we had a boy. I knew a boy in middle school named Albert and he was one of the nicest, most gentlemanly boys/guys I’ve ever met in my life. Seriously, a gentleman at 12 years old!
Now that is a rare find!
Al Gore is another Albert, even though he’s known as Al. His son is Albert Gore III.
This one doesn’t make my list at all.
Thanks, Joy – that’s one I should not have overlooked!
As someone who tends to be a sucker for male “Al” names, I do confess that I am rather fond of Albert. At one point I suggested to Mark that we name a potential son Edmund Albert, after the city and province we both hail from (but no longer live in). I was in jest, but I actually wouldn’t be opposed to using Albert somewhere in a child’s name. However, Mark’s not a fan, so it’s not really an option.
I’m surprised that I find myself liking Albert. I think it’s time for Albert and Rupert to steal a little of Robert’s limelight.
I also really love the nickname Albie. I’m not keen on Al because that sounds a little too middle aged man to my ears, but Albie is great!
Still not totally sold on Albert, but I’ve been liking Alberta lately.
Albert is THE family name on my mom’s side of the family. Every family has an Albert. But in the last couple of generations it’s moved to the middle spot. So I’ve always wanted to have an Albert of my own. I wanted it in the first name spot as a teenager, but lately not so much. Of course, that will depend at least in part on my future last name and husband’s preferences.
Also, back in September you said you were researching Darwin for a name of the day post, but I haven’t seen it. Did you decide not to do it for some reason?
A few years ago, I interviewed Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond, Jr. (namesake of his father, songwriter Albert Hammond, Sr) for a magazine article. I met his manager, and she didn’t call him by a nickname, either. He was just Albert. He was a nice guy and a great interview (also cute), and from then on, Albert has screamed “rock star” to me. I would use it in a heartbeat.
As is often the case with underused classic names, the Spanish form of this name is more popular than the English form: Alberto is ranking 368 compared to Albert at 404. My grandson Nicholas has Alberto as his middle name — the same mn as his South American grandfather Cesar Alberto.
Here’s a name where I love the nickname more than the formal – I think Albie is both adorable and charming, workable for a man of any age. Albert, though, is a bit “meh” to me. (Perhaps due to personal associations)
Also, I really can’t help but think “Hey, hey, hey” upon hearing the name. It just comes out! That’d probably get me into trouble someday, haha 🙂
There’s Albin, too – would that work any better or just be forever misunderstood as Alvin?
Hmm, I like Albin! But I do see it having the same problem as Eben… “Evan? No, Eben. With a B” I could see it with Albin/Alvin.
Has either Albin or Alvin been explored on here? That’d be a good one. Off to check the master list 🙂
I really like Albert! He’s snappy, snazzy & feels happy. Albie makes me smile, Bertie’s alright but Al is a chubby, Italian, old man to me. Blame my childhood neighborhood. 🙂
But Albert’s just lovely. His nicknames (for the most part) are fabulous, a long history but not stuffy.
Albert gets a double, exuberant, :thumbsup: from me!
Love Albert! Why does Robert get all of the love?
It’s not my favourite (I think “Prince Albert in a can” and “Fat Albert” when I hear it), but I could see it becoming popular with parents who want an “old-fashioned” name that isn’t too popular. And the nickname Albie/Alby is adorable.
I really like Adalbert- I think we should have an Old English/Germanic/Scandinavian name revival! lol.