Given name & surname
Bernadette
“as strong and brave as a bear”·“one who has bearlike strength and courage”
In French use, Bernadette is a diminutive of Bernard. One German interpretation is “as strong and brave as a bear.” Bernadette is a variant of Bernadine. In English use, Bernadine carries the interpretation “one who has bearlike strength and courage.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In French use, Bernadette is a diminutive of Bernard. One German interpretation is “as strong and brave as a bear.” Bernadette is a variant of Bernadine. In English use, Bernadine carries the interpretation “one who has bearlike strength and courage.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In French use, Bernadette is a diminutive of Bernard. An origin associated with Bernard is Germanic.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In French use, Bernadette is used as a feminine counterpart of Bernard.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Bernadette through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 55,033
- 60 boys · 54,973 girls
- Most popular year
- 1958
- 1,494 babies
- 2025
- 241
- #1,034 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +27%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 241 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,034 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 26.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 1,494 in 1958. In 2025, Illinois had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (18). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 44,253 as a first name in 2020; a sample rank of No. 65,661 among surnames in 1990.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Bernadette’s family of names
Bernadette is a diminutive of Bernard. Bernadette shares a linguistic root with Bernardetta. Bernadette has a related form in Bernadine.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Bernadette has relatives in 8 languages.
15 related names in 8 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 14
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 10
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Bernarditaequivalent
- Bernadettequivalent
- Biernådetecognate · Walloon
- BernadetaPolish, Occitan
- Nadettarelated form
- Bernhardinaequivalent
- BernadòtaOccitan
- BernadètaOccitan
Show 2 moreShow fewer
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Bernadette
- Bernadette SoubirousFrench saint (1844–1879)
- Bernadette PetersAmerican actress and singer (born 1948)
- Bernadette LafontFrench actress (1938-2013)
- Bernadette MeehanWikimedia CEO and American diplomat (born 1975)
- Bernadette ChiracFrench politician (1933–2026)
- Bernadette SzőcsRomanian table tennis playerborn 1995
- Bernadette SchildAustrian alpine skierborn 1990
- Bernadette Sanou DaoBurkinabé writerborn 1952
- Det de BeusDutch field hockey player (1958–2013)
Characters named Bernadette: Bernadette Rostenkowski (fictional character on The Big Bang Theory).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Bernadette, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Teresa
“a harvester”
>99% girls
Theresa
“a harvester”
>99% girls
Georgette
“farmer” · “one who works the earth”
>99% girls
Rockie
“one who is calm; restful”
16% boys · 84% girls
Maura
“moor” · “dark, swarthy”
>99% girls
Lucilla
“one who is illuminated”
>99% girls
Herlinda
>99% girls
Lacreta
“a bringer of light; a successful woman”
>99% girls