Home › Baby Names Directory › Burdette

Burdette

♂ Boy

Pronounced bur-DET /bɚˈdɛt/High

Meaning: Burdette is an English surname of French origin, a diminutive form linked to Old French words for a bird, giving the affectionate sense 'little bird'. It carries that light, fond meaning.Medium

In 30 seconds: Burdette is a French surname name traditionally read as 'little bird'. A refined early-century choice, it crested in 1922.

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumFrench

MeaningBurdette is an English surname of French origin, a diminutive form linked to Old French words for a bird, giving the affectionate sense 'little bird'. It carries that light, fond meaning.

U.S. rank (1979)#5442 ↘ Falling

1979 U.S. births6 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1922

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,714

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

Burdette is a surname of French origin turned first name, generally traced to a diminutive meaning 'little bird'. Like many surnames, it crossed into given-name use in nineteenth-century America, often honoring a family name, and appears in United States records from the eighteen-eighties, with a dignified early-century feel.

Burdette reached its high point in 1922 and faded through the century, reading now as a great-grandfather-tier surname name. It has not revived, remaining a courtly period piece rather than a name on the way back.

Did you know? Burdette turns up as a surname among old French and Norman families, and its likely root — a pet form meaning 'little bird' — gives a plain-sounding name a surprisingly tender image.

Overall data confidence 60%

References — Burdette — French surname name, diminutive 'little bird'; SSA peak 1922

Variations

BurdettBirdette

Nicknames

BurdDette

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Burdette…

Everett— a same-era -ett surname first name

Bernard— a similar refined early-century boys' name

Delbert— another vintage -bert boys' name of the period

Auguste— a similarly popular pick

Lamonte— the same surname-name feel

Explore names like Burdette

By themevintage surname-name french two-syllable light

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Burdette mean?

Burdette is a French surname name, a diminutive traditionally read as 'little bird'.

How do you pronounce Burdette?

It's said bur-DET /bɚˈdɛt/ — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Burdette a boy or girl name?

Burdette is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Burdette?

Burdette was an uncommon surname name that crested in the early nineteen-twenties and has been rare since.