Holding steady.
Popularity of Bernardette since 1935
Babies named Bernardette per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1964, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Bernardette's real moment was 1944.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1930s | 7 |
| 1940s | 33 |
| 1950s | 53 |
| 1960s | 55 |
| 1970s | 48 |
| 1980s | 31 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Bernardette is a French feminine name that appeared in U.S. birth records starting in 1935. It never entered the top 1000, reflecting its rarity. The name reached its peak usage in 1944, likely influenced by the popularity of the similar Bernadette following the 1943 film 'The Song of Bernadette'. Since then, its use has remained stable but very low. The name is a variant of Bernadette, with an extra 'r' that alters the spelling but not the pronunciation. Bernardette shares the same Germanic roots as Bernard, meaning 'brave as a bear'.
Bernardette is a French feminine diminutive of Bernard, which derives from the Germanic elements 'bern' meaning bear and 'hard' meaning brave or hardy. The name was popularized by the 19th-century Catholic saint Bernadette of Lourdes, though her name is spelled with one 'r'. Bernardette with the extra 'r' is a less common variant that saw modest use in the mid-20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Bernie, Bernadette, Etta, Dette
Variants: Bernadette, Bernarda
Sibling names for Bernardette
Names that share Bernardette's style, for a brother or sister.
