The name Brigitte originates from the Irish Gaelic word "brígh", meaning strength or vigor. It is a feminine form of the male name Bríghíd, which is anglicized as Bridget. The name gained popularity after Saint Brigid of Kildare, one of the three patron saints of Ireland, who lived in the 5th century.

Brigitte is a variant spelling of the name that is more commonly used in French and German-speaking regions. In French, the name is pronounced as "bree-zhit", while in German it is pronounced as "bri-gi-teh". The name was particularly popular in medieval Europe, with several historical figures bearing this name.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Brigitte is Brigitte of Sweden, a Swedish princess who lived in the 14th century. Another notable historical figure with this name is Brigitte Bardot, the French actress and singer born in 1934, who was a major sex symbol and fashion icon in the 1950s and 1960s.

In the 16th century, Brigitte de Suède, a Swedish princess and Catholic saint, played a significant role in the Catholic revival in Sweden. She was born in 1303 and died in 1373. Around the same time, Brigitte of Göttingen, a German mystic and writer, lived from 1292 to 1351.

In the 19th century, Brigitte Kurenbach, a German painter and illustrator, was born in 1833 and died in 1899. She was known for her illustrations of fairy tales and children's books.

Another notable figure with the name Brigitte is Brigitte Helm, a German actress who starred in the 1927 silent film "Metropolis". She was born in 1906 and died in 1996.