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Bernadette as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Bernadette

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The baby name Bernadette is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced English: /ˌbɜːrnəˈdɛt/ (UK), /ˌbɝnəˈdɛt/ (US); French: /bɛʁ.na.dɛt/.

Bernadette is French in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 3.0
Origin: French
Pronunciation: English: /ˌbɜːrnəˈdɛt/ (UK), /ˌbɝnəˈdɛt/ (US); French: /bɛʁ.na.dɛt/

What is the meaning of the name Bernadette ?

The baby name Bernadette is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced English: /ˌbɜːrnəˈdɛt/ (UK), /ˌbɝnəˈdɛt/ (US); French: /bɛʁ.na.dɛt/.

Bernadette is French in Origin.

Bernadette is the French feminine diminutive of Bernard, from Old High German Bernhard: bern "bear" + hard "brave, hardy," yielding the sense "brave as a bear" or "strong bear." The -ette ending marks an affectionate French form, yet the name’s core image is steadfast courage.

Its rise in use is closely tied to Saint Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes (1858), after whom the name spread through Catholic Europe and the Americas, peaking in the mid-20th century. It remains familiar in France, Ireland, the UK, and the United States, often chosen to honor Marian devotion. Nicknames include Bernie, Berni, Detta, Dettie, and Etta. International variants and cognates include Bernardetta (Italian), Bernadetta (Polish), Bernadett (Hungarian), Bernadete (Portuguese), Bernarda and Bernardita (Spanish), and Bernadeta (Catalan). Overall, Bernadette blends vintage French charm with a meaning of protective strength.

Bernadette has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Bernadette

Bernadette Peters Actor · Born 1948 · United States Bernadette Peters is an American actress and singer best known for her legendary work in musical theater. Over a career spanning more than six decades, she has starred in acclaimed shows like Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, and Annie Get Your Gun, while also appearing in film, television, concerts, and recordings. Bernadette Lafont Actor · Born 1938 · France Bernadette Lafont was a French actress best known as the face of the French New Wave. Over a career spanning more than 120 films, she appeared in notable works like The Good Time Girls, A Gorgeous Girl Like Me, and Paulette.

Bernadette – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Girls 2025 #1 — 874
FJ 0 #6 1 374
HT 0 #11 2 399
HT Girls 0 #15 9 950
NA 0 #32 2 2,537
BI Girls 0 #33 1 726
MV Girls 0 #35 1 2,021
Austria Girls 1984 #37 191 109
ID 0 #38 2 2,238
CM 0 #48 9 2,592
MO 0 #52 1 2,706
PR 0 #55 1 1,497
CM Girls 0 #58 1,508 11,671
PH 0 #59 38 5,607
CY 0 #60 1 1,632
LU 0 #64 3 2,830
AO 0 #77 1 2,729
JM 0 #91 3 3,714
ID Girls 0 #96 7 3,319
QA 0 #101 6 7,011
TW 0 #103 1 4,523
BN Girls 0 #110 5 5,459
HU 0 #110 6 1,675
KW 0 #117 5 5,216
OM 0 #119 3 6,215
CY Girls 0 #123 3 3,755
Austria Girls 0 #125 613 1,885
PH Girls 0 #126 337 13,098
MT Girls 0 #130 22 3,773
MU 0 #136 2 3,613
BW Girls 0 #139 10 4,216
JO 0 #140 1 2,158
Austria 0 #152 63 850
AE 0 #158 20 10,220
LU Girls 0 #162 24 4,850
CR 0 #164 2 5,526
NA Girls 0 #165 60 7,146
PR Girls 0 #167 1 3,171
Sweden Girls 2022 #178 2 1,568
AR 0 #192 2 2,915
DK 0 #204 3 5,198
HU Girls 0 #205 19 3,308
PL 0 #211 2 2,600
AO Girls 0 #215 3 4,575
MO Girls 0 #221 31 7,056
PS 0 #221 6 5,692
QA Girls 0 #228 89 15,378
SG 0 #243 27 11,010
JP Girls 0 #245 7 6,592
GH 0 #248 1 5,396
GR Girls 0 #248 2 6,293
JM Girls 0 #249 11 7,507
PT 0 #250 1 4,161
NA Boys 0 #253 1 6,830
NG 0 #270 3 5,926
SA 0 #276 20 10,560
IL 0 #278 5 6,291
Canada Girls 2024 #281 5 2,795
TW Girls 0 #286 4 8,139
DK Girls 0 #307 10 7,429
GH Girls 0 #313 12 6,973
MU Girls 0 #313 39 8,539
ZA 0 #318 130 14,421
MY 0 #320 11 12,352
PE 0 #329 1 6,350
JO Girls 0 #332 8 7,570
NL 0 #332 60 2,481
HK 0 #337 12 8,483
OM Girls 0 #348 49 15,987
CZ Girls 0 #350 2 5,378
NL Girls 0 #354 955 5,933
SD Girls 0 #355 4 7,678
CN Girls 0 #357 3 8,829
BR 0 #360 1 5,969
PL Girls 0 #363 2 5,096
MU Boys 0 #369 1 8,477
KW Girls 0 #396 120 19,177
SG Girls 0 #396 194 18,916
France Girls 2021 #399 7 3,185
Germany 0 #401 37 2,542
BD Girls 0 #404 3 8,413
AE Girls 0 #406 148 20,968
PH Boys 0 #406 3 11,440
EG 0 #408 5 6,387
ZA Girls 0 #422 1,266 25,928
PT Girls 0 #435 17 7,952
MX 0 #442 4 8,339
Spain 0 #443 10 2,326
SD Boys 0 #466 1 10,523
LB 0 #472 191 13,263
Germany Girls 0 #481 440 4,949
GT Boys 0 #499 1 7,625
CM Boys 0 #505 46 12,054
PS Girls 0 #507 17 10,981
CO 0 #510 1 7,768
BH 0 #512 42 17,937
PA Girls 0 #515 4 9,861
HK Girls 0 #517 99 16,104
CR Girls 0 #521 12 11,342
IQ Girls 0 #522 4 11,303
RU Girls 0 #522 2 11,913
UY Girls 0 #528 9 6,731
GT Girls 0 #540 2 7,500
IR Girls 0 #545 1 8,334
HK Boys 0 #555 3 12,905
LY 0 #557 3 12,703
IL Girls 0 #600 18 11,648
BO Boys 0 #622 1 9,244
AR Girls 0 #628 3 8,289
NG Girls 0 #634 154 15,093
BO Girls 0 #649 3 9,488
IN Girls 0 #650 5 13,121
IT 0 #659 56 4,183
CL Boys 0 #699 2 13,390
SA Girls 0 #709 227 25,931
Finland Girls 2026 #729 10 3,895
United States Girls 2024 #731 186 8,487
SG Boys 0 #737 3 17,960
QA Boys 0 #740 4 18,093
SY 0 #760 8 11,684
KW Boys 0 #802 5 18,755
TN 0 #809 21 13,765
CL Girls 0 #818 34 14,098
IT Girls 0 #840 735 9,415
Spain Girls 0 #876 108 5,561
MY Girls 0 #896 99 24,821
EG Girls 0 #908 52 14,742
OM Boys 0 #913 6 17,948
EG Boys 0 #925 1 15,035
BR Girls 0 #926 16 12,708
NG Boys 0 #996 6 16,906
PE Girls 0 #1,007 4 14,861
MA 0 #1,110 19 20,986
AE Boys 0 #1,139 5 22,615
CO Girls 0 #1,150 3 16,140
DZ 0 #1,162 15 20,130
ZA Boys 0 #1,168 11 25,619
MX Girls 0 #1,171 13 17,781
MY Boys 0 #1,182 1 25,439
TR 0 #1,251 4 19,440
SA Boys 0 #1,687 5 28,008

Bernadette is popular in 77 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Ireland
Canada
Scotland, United Kingdom
United States

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Bernadette

Bernadette is predominantly a girl's name.
Bernadette is a 3 syllable name, pronounced English: /ˌbɜːrnəˈdɛt/ (UK), /ˌbɝnəˈdɛt/ (US); French: /bɛʁ.na.dɛt/.
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Bernadett, Bernadetta, Bernarda, Bernie, Berna and Etta.
Across languages, Bernadette has these equivalents: Bernard (male), Bernadett (Hungarian), Bernadetta (Italian, Polish), Bernarda (Spanish, Portuguese).
Yes, very popular — Bernadette ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 8 countries.
Bernadette ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Bernadette's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #411 in 2011 to #399 in 2021 in France.
Yes — 2 notable people named Bernadette are in our database, including Bernadette Peters (Actor), Bernadette Lafont (Actor).