Berl is a name of German origin that has been used historically as both a given name and a surname. The name itself is derived from the Germanic element "berht" which means "bright" or "famous". In some cases, it may also be associated with the German city of Berlin.
The name Berl was first recorded as a given name in the 13th century, although its use as a surname predates this. As a given name, Berl has been used historically in Germany and other parts of Europe. However, it is not currently among the most popular names in any country and may be considered somewhat uncommon today.
Despite its lack of modern popularity, Berl has been borne by several notable individuals throughout history. One famous bearer of the name was Beryl Markham (1902-1986), a British-born Canadian aviatrix who set numerous aviation records and wrote a memoir called "West with the Night". Another notable figure named Berl was Berel Rodal (1921-1944), a member of the Jewish partisans in World War II who fought against Nazi occupation.
In summary, Berl is an ancient German name that means "bright" or "famous". Although it is not widely used today, it has been borne by several notable historical figures.
The name Berl experienced a peak in popularity between the years 1917 to 1929, with birth numbers consistently over 20 each year during this period. However, since then, it has seen a significant decline, with most recent years showing single-digit numbers of births. The total number of births from 1912 to 2023 is 1054.