Bernadette

Meaning: Brave bear
Origin: Germanic — French feminine diminutive of Bernard

Nicknames: Bernie, Bennie

Girl's name · #1034 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Popularity over time

Few names move less than Bernadette — on the books since 1880, #1034 in 2025, and dependable in between. Roughly 55,000 girls have carried the name since.

Across the states

See where Bernadette is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 22 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Bernadette ranks in other countries and regions.

#718 in Ireland (2025) · #1,138 in Italy (2024) · #1,429 in Canada (2025) · #1,719 in England & Wales (2025) · #3,895 in France (2025) · #407 in N. Ireland (2024) · #1,071 in Austria (2024) · #3,031 in Ecuador (2024) · #1,768 in Sweden (2022) · #761 in Poland (2016) · #802 in Scotland (2014) · #330 in New Zealand (2000) and 2 more.

Famous Bernadettes

Bernadette Soubirous — French Roman Catholic saint (1844–1879)
Bernadette Peters — American actress and singer (born 1948)
Bernadette Lafont — French actress (1938–2013)
Bernadette Meehan — American diplomat and CEO (born 1975)
Bernadette Chirac — French politician (1933–2026)

In stories & tradition

Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz — The Big Bang Theory (TV series)
Bernadette Bassenger — Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (musical stage work)
Bernadette Thompson — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (film)

What Bernadettes become

Among 598 notable people named Bernadette:

Political leaders appear 1.71× more often than among typical names — e.g. Bernadette Meehan, American diplomat and CEO (born 1975).

Spellings & nicknames

About 35 girls a year are given Bennie as their full name.

Similar names: Rosemarie · Berkley · Paulette · Marcella · Angelique · Brigitte

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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