Babette Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: bah-BET //bæˈbɛt//
Origin: French; Hebrew
Meaning: French: God is my oath; Hebrew: my father is joy
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Babette is of French origin, derived from the Hebrew name Elisheba, which means "God is my oath." The name underwent several transformations as it passed through different languages and cultures. In the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, Elisheba became Elisabet, which was then adapted into Latin as Elisabeth.
The French diminutive form, Babette, emerged from the affectionate use of the name in the 19th century, particularly in France, where it became popular as a standalone name. Historically, the name Babette has connections to various notable figures and texts.
One significant milestone is its association with Saint Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, who is venerated in Christianity. The name Elisabeth appears in the New Testament, particularly in the Gospel of Luke, which dates back to the 1st century CE.
The name gained further prominence through the translation of the Bible into various languages, including the King James Version in the early 17th century, which helped solidify its usage in Christian contexts. Culturally, Babette carries connotations of grace and devotion, reflecting its biblical roots.
The name has been embraced in literature and the arts, most notably in the short story "Babette's Feast" by Isak Dinesen, published in the early 20th century, which explores themes of sacrifice and generosity. This narrative has contributed to the name's enduring resonance in cultural discussions about faith and community.
The diminutive form Babette evokes a sense of intimacy and affection, often used in familial or close-knit social contexts.
Famous people named Babette
In this section, you will find notable people named Babette. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Babette who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Babette who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Babette Cole is an author and illustrator best known for Princess Smartypants, The Hairy Toe, and the Dr. Dog series.
Babette van Veen is an actress best known for her roles in Goede tijden, slechte tijden, and the film Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo.
Fictional characters named Babette
The following list of fictional characters named Babette is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Babette is a fictional character from the novel Babette's Feast by Isak Dinesen. She is a French woman who prepares a lavish meal for a group of Danish villagers, transforming their lives through her culinary artistry.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Babette, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Babette. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Babette was first seen in the United States in 1891.
Babette has ranked as high as #1335 nationally, which occurred in 1961, and has been most popular in New York, California, Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
In the past 5 years the name Babette has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Babette is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Babette was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Babette.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2023 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2021 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2013 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2006 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1995 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1992 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1991 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1990 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1989 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1988 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1987 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1986 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1985 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1984 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1983 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 1982 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1981 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1980 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1979 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| 1978 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1977 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| 1976 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1975 | 26 | 0 | 26 |
| 1974 | 27 | 0 | 27 |
| 1973 | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| 1972 | 36 | 0 | 36 |
| 1971 | 52 | 0 | 52 |
| 1970 | 51 | 0 | 51 |
| 1969 | 51 | 0 | 51 |
| 1968 | 75 | 0 | 75 |
| 1967 | 94 | 0 | 94 |
| 1966 | 94 | 0 | 94 |
| 1965 | 108 | 0 | 108 |
| 1964 | 151 | 0 | 151 |
| 1963 | 127 | 0 | 127 |
| 1962 | 162 | 0 | 162 |
| 1961 | 183 | 5 | 178 |
| 1960 | 132 | 0 | 132 |
| 1959 | 94 | 0 | 94 |
| 1958 | 53 | 0 | 53 |
| 1957 | 74 | 0 | 74 |
| 1956 | 106 | 0 | 106 |
| 1955 | 65 | 0 | 65 |
| 1954 | 92 | 0 | 92 |
| 1953 | 66 | 0 | 66 |
| 1952 | 66 | 0 | 66 |
| 1951 | 59 | 0 | 59 |
| 1950 | 53 | 0 | 53 |
| 1949 | 40 | 0 | 40 |
| 1948 | 31 | 0 | 31 |
| 1947 | 35 | 0 | 35 |
| 1946 | 31 | 0 | 31 |
| 1945 | 28 | 0 | 28 |
| 1944 | 34 | 0 | 34 |
| 1943 | 31 | 0 | 31 |
| 1942 | 31 | 0 | 31 |
| 1941 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| 1940 | 24 | 0 | 24 |
| 1939 | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| 1938 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| 1937 | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| 1936 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| 1935 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| 1934 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1933 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| 1932 | 23 | 0 | 23 |
| 1931 | 23 | 0 | 23 |
| 1930 | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| 1929 | 27 | 0 | 27 |
| 1928 | 30 | 0 | 30 |
| 1927 | 33 | 0 | 33 |
| 1926 | 23 | 0 | 23 |
| 1925 | 30 | 0 | 30 |
| 1924 | 26 | 0 | 26 |
| 1923 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| 1922 | 34 | 0 | 34 |
| 1921 | 30 | 0 | 30 |
| 1920 | 30 | 0 | 30 |
| 1919 | 23 | 0 | 23 |
| 1918 | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| 1917 | 24 | 0 | 24 |
| 1916 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| 1915 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 1914 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1913 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1912 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1911 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1910 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1908 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1907 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1891 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Top States for Babette (1979)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| OH | 5 |