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Bernadette

♀ Girl

Pronounced ber-nuh-DET /ˌbɜːr.nəˈdɛt/High

Meaning: Brave as a bear; French feminine form of Bernard, from Germanic Bernhard (bern: bear + hard: brave, strong)High

In 30 seconds: The French feminine form of Bernard meaning 'brave as a bear.' Made famous by Saint Bernadette of Lourdes, the French peasant girl who reported 18 apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1858 — making Lourdes one of the world's greatest pilgrimage sites.
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Origin HighGermanic, French
MeaningBrave as a bear; French feminine form of Bernard, from Germanic Bernhard (bern: bear + hard: brave, strong)
U.S. rank (2024)#1247 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births186 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1958
Total births (all-time)≈ 54,728

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195818802024

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

History & Origin

Bernadette is the French feminine of Bernard, from Germanic Bernhard (bern: bear + hard: brave). The name's worldwide fame comes from Saint Bernadette Soubirous (1844–1879), whose visions at Lourdes and subsequent beatification made it one of Catholicism's most beloved names.

Bernadette ranked #1247 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? Saint Bernadette Soubirous (1844–1879) was 14 when she began seeing apparitions at Lourdes. The spring that emerged at the site has been associated with miraculous healings ever since — Lourdes now receives 5–6 million pilgrims annually, making it Europe's most visited pilgrimage site.
Overall data confidence 94%
Behind the Name — Bernadette — Germanic/French etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

BernardetteBernarda

Nicknames

BernieBerniDede

Famous Bearers

  • ★Saint Bernadette of Lourdes (1844-1879)
    French peasant girl who reported 18 Marian apparitions at Lourdes in 1858. The site became one of the world's most visited pilgrimage destinations.
  • ★Bernadette Peters (b. 1948)
    American actress and singer, one of Broadway's most acclaimed performers with multiple Tony and Drama Desk awards over a six-decade career.

If you like Bernadette…

Beatrice— French/Latin three-syllable feminine name with the same Catholic saint dignity
Brigitte— French feminine name with the same Catholic tradition
Colette— French three-syllable name with the same Gallic saint heritage
Cecile— French feminine saint name with the same devotional Catholic feel
Gabrielle— French -elle ending feminine name in the same Catholic register

Frequently Asked

What does the name Bernadette mean?

Bernadette means 'brave as a bear,' the French feminine of Bernard, from Germanic Bernhard (bern: bear + hard: brave).

How do you pronounce Bernadette?

It's said ber-nuh-DET — three syllables, stress on the third.

Is Bernadette a boy or girl name?

Bernadette is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Bernadette?

Bernadette ranked #1247 for U.S. girls in 2024.