Find out how popular the first name Bernardette has been for the last 22 years (from 1974 to 1995) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Bernardette by gender

Based on the last 22 years of data, Bernardette is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 1995, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Bernardette.

The history of the first name Bernardette

The name Bernardette has its origins in the Romance languages, specifically French and Italian. It is a feminine form of the masculine name Bernard, which derives from the Germanic words "bern" meaning "bear" and "hard" meaning "brave" or "hardy." The name can be traced back to the 8th century AD.

One of the earliest known uses of the name Bernardette dates back to the 12th century, when it was recorded in historical documents from the region of Aquitaine in southwestern France. The name gained prominence in the 19th century with the story of Saint Bernadette Soubirous, a young French peasant girl who reported visions of the Virgin Mary in Lourdes, France, in 1858.

Bernadette Soubirous (1844-1879) was a sickly and impoverished child who claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary in a series of apparitions in a grotto near Lourdes. Her visions led to the establishment of the Marian shrine at Lourdes, which has since become one of the most significant pilgrimage sites for Catholics worldwide.

Another notable figure named Bernardette was Bernardette Renée Soubirous (1946-1964), a French Roman Catholic mystic and stigmatist. She was known for her devotion to the Virgin Mary and was believed to have experienced visions and stigmata (the appearance of bodily wounds resembling those of Christ's crucifixion).

In literature, Bernardette is the name of the protagonist in the novel "The Song of Bernadette" by Franz Werfel, published in 1941. The book tells the story of Bernadette Soubirous and her visions at Lourdes, and it was later adapted into a popular film in 1943.

Other historical figures with the name Bernardette include Bernardette Chodron (1944-2014), an American Buddhist nun and author, and Bernardette Devlin (born 1947), an Irish political activist and former Member of Parliament.

While the name Bernardette has its roots in the French and Italian cultures, it has since gained popularity in various parts of the world, particularly among Catholic communities, due to its association with Saint Bernadette Soubirous and the apparitions at Lourdes.

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 Bernardette was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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