Find out how popular the first name Bernadette has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Bernadette by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Bernadette is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Bernadette being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 185 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Bernadette.

The history of the first name Bernadette

The given name Bernadette has its origins in the Frankish or Germanic languages of medieval Europe. It is derived from the Germanic words "bern" meaning bear, and "hard" meaning brave or hardy. Thus, the name literally translates to "brave as a bear".

In its earliest form, the name was spelled "Bernardette" or "Bernhardine" in various regions of what is now France and Germany. It gained popularity as a feminine form of the masculine name Bernard, which followed a similar etymology.

The name is associated with St. Bernadette Soubirous (1844-1879), a young French Catholic who reported visions of the Virgin Mary in Lourdes, France. Her visions led to the establishment of the Marian shrine at Lourdes, one of the most renowned pilgrimage sites in the world. Bernadette was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1933.

Other notable figures with the name Bernadette include Bernadette Devlin (born 1947), an Irish political activist and politician who played a prominent role in the Northern Ireland civil rights movement. Bernadette Peters (born 1948) is an American actress and singer, renowned for her work on Broadway and in films.

Bernadette Soubirous Bigombe (born 1956) is a Ugandan peace activist and former government minister, who played a key role in negotiations with the Lord's Resistance Army rebel group. Bernadette Chirac (born 1933) is the wife of former French President Jacques Chirac, and was actively involved in charitable work during her husband's presidency.

Bernadette Fox Murphy (1952-2010) was an American Roman Catholic religious sister and anti-death penalty activist, known for her work in advocating for the abolition of capital punishment in the United States.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Bernadette was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Bernadette, please contact us.

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