Bridget

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Bridget

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Bridget is the English form of the French Brigette, based on the Latin Brigitta, based on Brighid (or Brigit) a Celtic name meaning “Lofty,” or “the High One.”

History:
Bridget was the name of a Celtic fire goddess. One of the earliest noted English example was Bridget Holland, daughter of Thomas de Holland (1350-1397), the 2nd earl of Kent. Another early example is Bridget Plantagenet, daughter of King Edward IV (1480-1517) who became a nun. It was not, however, common in Ireland until the 17th or 18th century, as it was considered too sacred for ordinary use (due to St. Bridget, one of the patron saints of Ireland). In England, it later became unfashionable, considered a name of the lower classes.

Pronunciation: brid-jett.

Diminutives:
English: Biddie, Biddy, Brita, Brite, Brites.
Scandinavian: Gitta.

Alternates: Birketa, Birkita, Birte, Breeda, Bridgett, Bridgette, Bridgit, Bridgite, Bridgitte, Bridgid, Brietta, Brigette, Brighid, Brigid, Brigitta, Brygid.
Breton: Berched, Breched.
Danish: Britta, Bergitte.
Finnish: Pirjo, Pirkko.
French: Brigitte, Bridgette.
Irish Gaelic: Bríd, Brighid, Bedelia.
Italian: Brigida.
Polish: Brygida.
Scandinavian: Birgit, Birgitta, Berit.
Spanish: Brigida, Brigidia.
Swedish: Britta.
Welsh: Ffraid.

See also: Biddy.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Brigid Brophy (1929-1995)
English artist.
Bridget Riley (1931-)
English artist.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Lady Bridget Hortia Plowden (1907-)
British educator.

Religious Figures:
St. Bridget (453-523)
Irish abbess.
St. Birgitta of Sweden (1302-1373)
Founder of the monastery of Vadstena.

Singers and Entertainers:
Bridgette Helm (Gisele Eve Schittenhelm) (1906-1996)
German actress.
Bridgette Bardot (1934-)
French actress.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.045 % named Bridget
0.015 % named Bridgette
0.009 % named Bridgett
0.009 % named Brigitte
0.004 % named Brigette
0.002 % named Brigid
0.002 % named Brigida
0.002 % named Birgit

Popularity of Bridget:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1800: 18th most popular.
1850: 20th most popular.
1875: 92nd most popular.
1900-1910: 381st most popular.
1910-1920: 666th most popular.
1920-1930: 909th most popular.
1930-1940: 836th most popular.
1940-1950: 803rd most popular.
1950-1960: 407th most popular.
1960-1970: 228th most popular.
1970-1980: 151st most popular.
1980-1990: 169th most popular.
1990: 199th most popular.
1991: 211th most popular.
1992: 210th most popular.
1993: 187th most popular.
1995: 204th most popular.
1996: 197th most popular.
1997: 239th most popular.
1998: 238th most popular.
1999: 253rd most popular.
2000: 278th most popular.
2001: 277th most popular.
2002: 293rd most popular.
2003: 305th most popular.

Popularity of Bridgette:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1960: N/A
1960-1970: 419th most popular.
1970-1980: 440th most popular.
1980-1990: 498th most popular.
1990: 461st most popular
1991: 485th most popular.
1992: 578th most popular.
1993: 490th most popular.
1995: 568th most popular.
1996: 597th most popular.
1997: 687th most popular.
1998: 663rd most popular.
1999: 787th most popular.
2000: 893rd most popular.
2001: 952nd most popular.
2002: N/A
2003: 956th most popular.

Popularity of Bridgett:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1960: N/A
1960-1970: 579th most popular.
1970-1980: 507th most popular.
1980-1990: 648th most popular.
1990: 898th most popular.
1991: 974th most popular.
1992: N/A
1993: 881st most popular.
1994: N/A

Popularity of Brigitte:
Popularity (for newborns):

In the United States...
1900-1960: N/A
1960-1970: 612th most popular.
1970-1980: N/A
1980-1990: 859th most popular.
1990-2000: N/A

In France...
1900-1920: N/A
1927: 196th most popular.
1930: 161st most popular.
1940: 81st most popular.
1950: 21st most popular.
1960: 4th most popular.
1970: 50th most popular.
1980: 189th most popular.
1981-2000: N/A