Cosette

At a Glance

Origin

French (literary coinage, popularized by Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, 1862)

Gender

Neutral

Pronunciation

koh-ZETListen

Cosette is a French name created for literature rather than passed down through tradition — it first appeared as a character in Victor Hugo's 1862 novel Les Misérables. You may have heard it explained as meaning 'little thing,' but that tidy explanation isn't backed by any dictionary; the name comes from the page, not from an older word. It's pronounced koh-ZET, and suits a child of any gender.

Meaning & Origin of Cosette

Origin: French (literary coinage, popularized by Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, 1862).

A common claim: Commonly said to mean 'little thing' Actually: This plausible-sounding gloss (from French 'chose' + diminutive '-ette') isn't confirmed by any dictionary source; Cosette is primarily a literary name rather than a traditional word-derived given name.

Source: Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Cosette

Popularity of Cosette

Cosette reached its highest point in U.S. baby name data in 2015, when 141 babies were given the name, ranking it #1554 that year. By 2024 it had cooled to #1909, given to 104 babies.

Names Like Cosette

These names share Cosette’s style, era or origin.

• Adler
• Aila
• Amabel
• Aphra
• Boden
• Calanthe

FAQ

What does the name Cosette mean?

Commonly said to mean ‘little thing’ This plausible-sounding gloss (from French ‘chose’ + diminutive ‘-ette’) isn’t confirmed by any dictionary source; Cosette is primarily a literary name rather than a traditional word-derived given name.

How do you pronounce Cosette?

Cosette is pronounced koh-ZET (IPA: /koʊˈzɛt/).

Is Cosette a popular name right now?

Cosette peaked at #1554 in 2015 and is ranked #1909 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1912–2024.)

Make Cosette Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Cosette, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.