Bernadette
Girl name · #1034 in 2025 · Uniqueness 44/100
In 2025, 241 baby girls were named Bernadette, placing it at #1034 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1477, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 7,469 girls born in 2025 was named Bernadette.
The 145-year story
Bernadette first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 8 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1958, when 1,494 girls were named Bernadette — good for #213 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Bernadette per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Bernadette against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Bernadette in class?
Bernadette scores 44 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Bernadette is most common
Geography matters for names, and Bernadette is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Bernadettes were IL (18), CA (17), NY (14), TX (14), MI (12). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Bernadette
Statistically, parents drawn to Bernadette tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Annette, Brigitte, Paulette, Bridgette, and Yvette.
AnnetteBrigittePauletteBridgetteYvetteColletteLynetteGeorgette
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Bernadette | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 241 | #1034 |
| 2024 | 187 | #1242 |
| 2023 | 189 | #1237 |
| 2022 | 182 | #1295 |
| 2021 | 208 | #1175 |
| 2020 | 150 | #1445 |
| 2019 | 139 | #1548 |
| 2018 | 181 | #1271 |
| 2017 | 177 | #1317 |
| 2016 | 148 | #1523 |
| 2015 | 155 | #1477 |
| 2014 | 134 | #1602 |
| 2013 | 95 | #2032 |
| 2012 | 88 | #2145 |
| 2011 | 63 | #2763 |
| 2010 | 79 | #2386 |
| 2009 | 77 | #2465 |
| 2008 | 78 | #2441 |
| 2007 | 74 | #2509 |
| 2006 | 95 | #2069 |
| 2005 | 91 | #2057 |
| 2004 | 96 | #1942 |
| 2003 | 99 | #1858 |
| 2002 | 101 | #1780 |
| 2001 | 125 | #1499 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Bernadette a popular girl name?
Bernadette ranked #1034 among girls in 2025 with 241 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1477.
When was the name Bernadette most popular?
Bernadette peaked in 1958, when 1,494 American girls received the name (ranked #213 that year). Since 1958 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Bernadette?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 7,469 newborn American girls was named Bernadette. It scores 44/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.