Bernadette

At a Glance: Name: Bernadette – Meaning: brave/strong as a bear – Origin: French (from Germanic) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: ber-nuh-DET

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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

Phonetic: ber-nuh-DET   IPA: /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.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name 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.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Valerie
• Adele
• Annette
• Cecile
• Denise
• Genevieve

FAQ

What does the name Bernadette mean?

Brave/strong as a bear. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Bernadette)

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.)

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