The name Robert means "bright fame," derived from the Germanic elements hrod (fame) and beraht (bright). The Normans introduced this name to Britain. It belonged to three kings of Scotland, including Robert the Bruce who restored the independence of Scotland from England in the 14th century.

The name may be shortened to the nicknames Robby/Robbie/Rabbie (in Scotland), Robban (Sweden), Bob/Bobbers/Bobby/Bobert/Bert, Rob and Robet (pronounced Row-bay). The Dutch form is Robbert. The latinized form of Robert was Rupertus, which is the origin of the name Rupert.

The Italian form of the name, Roberto, became ideologically motivated in the time of the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis, from the name of the three capitals: Rome, Berlin, and Tokyo.

Historical

Saints

• Saint Robert of Molesme, founder of the Cistercian Order
• Saint Robert Bellarmine, Doctor of the Church

Medieval

• Robert of Melun, scholastic theologian
• Robert of Winchelsea, theologian and opponent of both Edward I and Edward II of England

Kings of Scotland

• Robert I of Scotland ("Robert the Bruce")
• Robert II of Scotland
• Robert III of Scotland

Kings of France

• Robert I of France
• Robert II of France

Given names

• Robert April, fictional character in the Star Trek universe
• Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, soldier, writer and founder of the world Scouting movement
• Robert Barclay, eminent writer of the 17th century
• Robert Bell (speaker), Speaker of the British House of Commons 1572-76, Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer
• Robert Beltran, best known for his role as Commander Chakotay on Voyager
• Robert Bertrand, Canadian politician
• Robert Bork, American judge
• Robert Boyle, Famous Irish-born Scientist responsible for Boyle's Law
• LeVar Robert Martyn Burton Jr., actor and director who first came to prominence playing Kunta Kinte in the 1977 award winning television miniseries Roots
• Roberto Carlos, Brazilian football player (born Roberto Carlos da Silva)
• Roberto Carlos, Brazilian singer (born Roberto Carlos Braga)
• Robert Cummings, American film director and musician under the name Rob Zombie
• Robert De Niro, American actor
• Robert A. Heinlein, 1907-1988, science fiction author
• Robert Horry, American professional basketball player
• Robert Hooke, Famous British Scientist, best known for Hooke's Law
• Robert Francis Kennedy, U.S. Attorney General (1961-1964) and younger brother of President John F. Kennedy
• Robert M. La Follette, Sr., politician
• Robert M. La Follette, Jr., politician
• Robert E. Lee, General of Confederate army during United States Civil War
• Robert Lowe, actor
• Robert Ludlum , American fiction author
• Roberto Luongo, Canadian ice hockey player
• Robert Nesta Marley, musician
• Robert McNamara, U.S. Secretary of Defense (1961 to 1968) during President Lyndon B. Johnson's administration
• Robert Duncan McNeill, American actor, producer, movie director, and television director who is best known for his role as Lieutenant Tom Paris on the television show, Voyager
• Robert Moog, electronic music synthesizer and pioneer
• Robert Moses, city planner and architect
• Robert Nozick, American Philosopher
• Robert Oppenheimer, nuclear physicist
• Robert Palmer, English rock singer best known for the song Addicted to Love
• Robert Picardo, American actor
• Robert Pickton, Canadian accused of multiple murders
• Robert Plant, singer and songwriter; lead vocalist for the band Led Zeppelin
• Robert Redford, American actor
• Robert B. Sherman, American songwriter
• Robert Smith (musician), vocalist and songwriter for the rock group The Cure
• Robert Louis Stevenson, novelist, poet
• Robert Swirsky, pianist and computer scientist
• Robert Szatkowski, professional wrestler under the name Rob Van Dam
• Robert Wagner, American actor
• Robert Hewitt Wolfe, American television producer and scriptwriter
• Robert van der Zant, Australian medley swimmer
• Robert Zubrin, Martian advocate
• Robert Zoellick, US Deputy Secretary of State
• Robert Allen Zimmerman (Bob Dylan), musician

Surnamed

• Alain Robert, French rock and urban climber
• Paul Robert, French lexicographer

See also

Given names | Surnames

Robert | Robert | Robert | Róbert | Robert | Robert | Róbert | Robert