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Barbette

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Barbette

Pronounced bar-BET /bɑrˈbɛt/Medium

Meaning: Barbette is a French pet form of Barbara, from Greek 'barbaros', meaning 'foreign' or 'stranger' - the name of an early Christian saint. The -ette ending is the French diminutive, so Barbette means, in effect, 'little Barbara'.Medium

In 30 seconds: Barbette is a dainty French pet form of Barbara, whose Greek root means 'foreign'. Borne by early Saint Barbara, it was a rare, elegant mid-century pick, peaking around 1963 (said 'bar-BET').

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Origin MediumFrench, Greek

MeaningBarbette is a French pet form of Barbara, from Greek 'barbaros', meaning 'foreign' or 'stranger' - the name of an early Christian saint. The -ette ending is the French diminutive, so Barbette means, in effect, 'little Barbara'.

U.S. rank (1972)#6622 ↘ Falling

1972 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1963

Total births (all-time)≈ 335

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Barbette is the French diminutive of Barbara, which comes from Greek barbaros, 'foreign' or 'strange' - originally an outsider whose speech sounded like 'bar-bar'. Saint Barbara, an early martyr, carried the name into Christian Europe, and French added the affectionate -ette to make Barbette.

In American use Barbette was always scarce, borne by only a few dozen girls a year at a faint 1960s peak before disappearing by the 1970s. It shares its family with Babette and the classic Barbara.

Did you know? The -ette in Barbette is the same French diminutive found in Nanette and Paulette; it marks the name as a fond, small-scale version of the stately Barbara.

Overall data confidence 70%

References - Barbette / Barbara — French diminutive of Barbara, Greek barbaros

Variations

BarbaraBabetteBarbettaBarbra

Nicknames

BarbBetteBabs

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Barbette…

Babette— a sister French diminutive of the same Barbara

Barbara— the full name Barbette shortens

Colette— another French -ette name with the same daintiness

Barbra— a streamlined form of the same root name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Barbette mean?

Barbette is a French diminutive of Barbara, from the Greek word for 'foreign' or 'stranger'.

How do you pronounce Barbette?

It's said bar-BET /bɑrˈbɛt/ - two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Barbette a boy or girl name?

Barbette is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Barbette?

Barbette is rare in the U.S., a dainty French pet form of the once-popular Barbara.