← All names

Bernadette

Girl name · 394 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Bernadette: 394 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 31 births in 1979.

Of French and German origin, Bernadette is the feminine diminutive of Bernard, itself derived from the Germanic elements *bern* (bear) and *hard* (brave, hardy), so the name means “brave as a bear” or “bear-strength.” Its most famous bearer is Saint Bernadette Soubirous, the young French girl who reported visions of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes in 1858, and whose story has inspired countless pilgrimages. The name also connects to the playwright and actress Bernadette Peters, a beloved star of Broadway and film. While there are no major places named directly for a Bernadette, the town of Lourdes itself shares no etymological root with the name. A sweet and classic variant is the Irish and Scottish form, Bernadette's short form “Bernie” or the more modern “Berna” occasionally appear in Scottish records.