This post contains affiliate links.
At a Glance
- Meaning
- Brave/strong as a bear
- Origin
- French (from Germanic)
- Gender
- Girl
- Pronunciation
- ber-nuh-DET
Bernadette is a French name with Germanic roots, pronounced ber-nuh-DET, carrying the meaning "brave, strong as a bear." It has an old-world, classic feel more common a generation or two back than in nurseries today. If you're drawn to a name with that vintage character and sturdy meaning, it's worth a closer look.
Meaning & Origin of Bernadette
Meaning: Brave/strong as a bear.
Origin: French (from Germanic).
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Bernadette
ber-nuh-DETIPA /bɜːrnəˈdɛt/
Popularity of Bernadette
Bernadette peaked at #188 in 1946, when 1,321 baby girls were given the name; by 2024 it had dropped to #1247, with just 186 babies given the name that year.
Names Like Bernadette
These names share Bernadette’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Bernadette mean?
Brave/strong as a bear. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Bernadette?
Bernadette is pronounced ber-nuh-DET (IPA: /bɜːrnəˈdɛt/).
Is Bernadette a popular name right now?
Bernadette peaked at #188 in 1946 and is ranked #1247 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Bernadette Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Bernadette, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Bernadette? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
🎲 Think you know your baby names? Take the quiz!
📱 The Baby Names app is here
Swipe names, match with your partner the moment you both say yes, and claim a free Name Art print of your winner. Free to download. See all our apps →
