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Do you know a Robert? If you do, chances are good that he was born sometime in the 1920s or 1930s, when Robert was the top-ranked male name in the United States. Famous Roberts, such as the former senator Robert F. Kennedy(also known as Bobby, a common nickname for Robert)
and actor Robert Redford(actually christened Charles Robert) were born in this time period, 1925 and 1936 respectively. The popularity of the name Robert stayed strong in the 1980s

(within the top ten), slowly declined in the 1990s, and fell to the 47th most popular name in 2006. However, in Iceland the name has retained its popularity, ranking 14th in the years 2001-2004.
The name Robert comes from Germanic roots; "hrode", counsel, and "beraht", bright. It can mean famous in counsel or bright fame. In medieval times, Robert was known as Rotberi, in Old German, Hrodebert or Rodbert. The name was used in continental Europe, then brought to England by the Normans, who led by William the Conqueror, invaded in 1066.
A famous early Robert, descended from a Norman family background, was Robert the Bruce, born July 11, 1274, in Scotland. Robert Bruce was known as a great warrior, leading Scotland against the Kingdom of England in the Wars of Scottish Independence. He was the King of Scot-
land from 1306 to 1329, when he died from leprosy. Robert Bruce's body is buried in Dunferm-
line Abbey, but his heart was removed and buried at Melrose Abbey.
Two writing Roberts, Robert Burns and Robert Frost, are also of Scottish ancestry. Robert Burns, born January 25, 1759, is a pioneer of the Romantic movement and considered the
national poet of Scotland. Some of his most famous poems are Auld Lang Syne, Scots Wha Hae, To a Mouse, and A Red Red Rose. Burns Night, celebrated on his birthday, features haggis (sheep's heart, liver, and lungs) and reading of Burns' work.
Though he was born in San Francisco on March 26, 1874, Robert Lee Frost's mother was of Scotch descent. Robert Frost wrote poems often dealing with rural life. The Road Not Taken and Stopping By the Woods on a Snowy Evening are perhaps his most well-known poems. Frost won four Pulitzer Prizes during his life.
Places to visit which include the name Robert are Robert, Louisiana, where you can camp at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, Saint Robert, Missouri, once a hotbed of vice in the '70s before it was reformed, Le Robert, France, Robert Lee, Texas, named after General Robert E. Lee, and Robert's Arm, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada, located next to Crescent Lake and boasting its own sea monster, "Cressie".
The Beatles recorded a song in 1966, Doctor Robert, written by John Lennon, about a doctor who "If you're down he'll pick you up". Braveheart, made in 1996 and starring Mel Gib-
son, had a portrayal of Robert the Bruce but was considered historically inaccurate.

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