Given name & surname · also Old French
Odette
“a wealthy woman; one who is prosperous”·“wielding a spear of the elves”
In English use, Odette has a related form in Odetta. One French interpretation is “a wealthy woman; one who is prosperous.” In French use, Odette is a diminutive of Oda. One German interpretation is “wielding a spear of the elves.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Odette has a related form in Odetta. One French interpretation is “a wealthy woman; one who is prosperous.” In French use, Odette is a diminutive of Oda. One German interpretation is “wielding a spear of the elves.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with Old French and Germanic naming traditions.
How it developed
Odette is a diminutive of Oda. Odette is a diminutive of Old French.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1894. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Odette through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,239
- 0 boys · 4,239 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 303 babies
- 2025
- 303
- #883 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +87%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 303 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 883 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 86.9% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (42). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,420 as a first name in 2020; 951 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Odette’s family of names
In English usage, Odette has a diminutive in Odie. In English usage, Odette has a related form in Odetta. Odette is a diminutive of Oda.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Odette has relatives in 5 languages. Lines run from its Proto-Germanic roots to each of them.
7 related names in 5 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Odette
- Odette AnnableAmerican actressborn 1985
- Odette GiuffridaItalian judokaborn 1994
- Odette Bancilhonastronomer (1908–1993)
- Odette JoyeuxFrench writer and actor (1914–2000)
- Odette HallowesFrench resistance member (1912-1995)
- Odette de Champdiversmistress of Charles VI of France1390–1425
- Odette MyrtilFrench actor (1898-1978)
- Odette NyiramilimoRwandan politicianborn 1956
- Odette Abadiphysician and member of the French Resistance during WWII1914–1999
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
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