Given name & surname · also Gaelic
Birgit
Birgit is a feminine given name from Swedish, ultimately from Danish. It is used in German, Swedish, Danish, Estonian, and 2 other languages.
Meaning & origin
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Irish.
How it developed
In Danish usage, Birgit is a short form of Birgitta.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1934. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Birgit is a variant of Bridget. The history of Bridget gives this family its wider story. In mythological stories, Bridget is associated with the goddess of fire, wisdom, and poetry.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Birgit through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 280
- 0 boys · 280 girls
- Most popular year
- 1960
- 25 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 6 in 1992. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 25 in 1960. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,166 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Birgit’s family of names
In German usage, Birgit has a short form in Brit. Birgit shares a linguistic root with Bridget. In German usage, Birgit has a related form in Brigitte.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Birgit has relatives in 8 languages. Lines run from its Irish roots to each of them.
17 related names in 8 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 18
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 11
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Brigittaequivalent
- Brigidaequivalent
- Birgermasculine form
- Brigitaequivalent
- Brígidaequivalent
- Pirittaequivalent
- BrygidaPolish
- Brec'hedequivalent
Show 3 moreShow fewer
See also 4
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Birgit
- Birgit SarrapEstonian singer (born 1988)
- Birgit PrinzGerman footballer (born 1977)
- Birgit FischerEast German kayakerborn 1962
- Birgit MinichmayrAustrian actress and singerborn 1977
- Birgit CullbergSwedish ballet choreographer (1908-1999)
- Birgit BrüelDanish actress and singer (1927-1996)
- Birgit PeterEast German rowerborn 1964
- Birgit JürgenssenAustrian photographer (1949-2003)
- Birgit Malsack-WinkemannGerman far-right politicianborn 1964
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Birgit, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Deirdre
“a brokenhearted or raging woman”
>99% girls
Ardra
“one who is noble” · “the goddess of bad luck and misfortune”
>99% girls
Sheila
“one who is blind” · “one of cool conduct and character”
>99% girls
Maura
“moor” · “dark, swarthy”
>99% girls
Glenda
“one who is good and fair”
>99% girls
Lorna
“crowned with laurel; from the laurel tree”
>99% girls
Gwynn
“a handsome man; one who is fair”
>99% girls
Tara
“hill”
>99% girls