Like most names ending in "bert", this is an old Norman French name of Germanic origin. It is derived from the Germanic words hun ("warrior" or "bear cub") and berth ("bright" or "famous.") So the approximate meaning is "famous warrior." The Normans brought the name to Britain; however, it has never been popular in English-speaking countries, being formerly better known in France and Germany.
Since the 1950s it has had unpleasant connotations, being both the first name and surname of the molester of the 12 year old Lolita in Vladimir Nabokov's famous novel of that name. Nabokov wrote that he chose the name because it conveyed a certain unpleasantness, which it certainly does now. The novel continues to be well known and has also been filmed twice, by Stanley Kubrick, and more recently by Adrian Lyne (starring Jeremy Irons and Dominique Swain.)
Since the 1950s it has had unpleasant connotations, being both the first name and surname of the molester of the 12 year old Lolita in Vladimir Nabokov's famous novel of that name. Nabokov wrote that he chose the name because it conveyed a certain unpleasantness, which it certainly does now. The novel continues to be well known and has also been filmed twice, by Stanley Kubrick, and more recently by Adrian Lyne (starring Jeremy Irons and Dominique Swain.)
