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Juliette

♀ Girl

Pronounced joo-lee-ET /ˌdʒuː.liˈɛt/High

Meaning: Youthful, downy-bearded — French diminutive of Julie/Julia, from Latin <em>Iulius</em>, the Roman clan name possibly meaning 'downy-bearded' or 'youthful'High

In 30 seconds: The French diminutive of Julia, Juliette means 'youthful' and carries the most romantic name in Western literature — Shakespeare's tragic heroine who gave her name to a universal symbol of love.
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Origin HighFrench, Latin
MeaningYouthful, downy-bearded — French diminutive of Julie/Julia, from Latin <em>Iulius</em>, the Roman clan name possibly meaning 'downy-bearded' or 'youthful'
Peak year2016
Total births (all-time)≈ 26,226

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201618812017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Juliette is the French diminutive form of Julie or Julia, derived from the Roman family name Iulius. The Iulii were one of the oldest patrician families of Rome; Julius Caesar was the most famous bearer. The root meaning of Iulius is debated: 'downy-bearded' (referring to youth) and 'devoted to Jove (Jupiter)' are both proposed. Shakespeare's Juliet is an anglicized variant of the same name.

Juliette has been popular in France for centuries and spread internationally through the universal fame of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In the United States the French spelling Juliette has grown in popularity alongside Juliet since the 1990s, appealing to parents who want both the romantic literary association and the French elegance of the double-t ending.

Did you know? Shakespeare's Juliet in Romeo and Juliet (c. 1594) was named after a character in an Italian novella by Matteo Bandello, and the name was itself derived from French Juliette. The balcony in Verona claimed as Juliet's receives around a million visitors per year.

Variations

JulietGiulietta

Nicknames

JulesJulieJuju

Famous Bearers

  • ★Juliette Binoche (b. 1964)
    Acclaimed French actress, Academy Award winner for <em>The English Patient</em>.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Juliette mean?

Juliette is a French diminutive of Julia, from the Roman name Iulius, meaning 'youthful' or possibly 'downy-bearded.'

How do you pronounce Juliette?

Juliette is pronounced joo-lee-ET /ˌdʒuː.liˈɛt/ — three syllables with stress on the last.

Is Juliette a boy or girl name?

Juliette is a girls' name.

How popular is Juliette?

Juliette has risen into the U.S. top 100 girls' names, appealing to parents drawn to its French elegance and Shakespearean romance.