| Bridget | |
|---|---|
St. Brigid of Kildare inspired the popularity of the name Bridget. |
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| Origin | |
| Word/Name | Irish |
| Meaning | "Strong willed" |
| Other names | |
| Related names | Brigitte |
Bridget or Brigid is a Celtic/Irish female name derived from the noun brígh, meaning "power, strength, vigor, virtue."[1] An alternate meaning of the name is "exalted one".[2] Its popularity, especially in Ireland, is largely related to the popularity of Saint Brigid of Kildare, who was so popular in Ireland she was known as "Mary of the Gael." This saint took on many of the characteristics of the early Celtic goddess Brigid, who was the goddess of agriculture and healing and possibly also of poetry and fire. One of her epithets was "Brigid of the Holy Fire."[3] In German and Scandinavian countries, the popularity of the name spread due to Saint Bridget of Sweden.
In the Irish language, the name is spelled Brighid and is pronounced "Breed" or "Breege". At one time the name was so popular for Irish girls that Biddy was used as a slang term for an Irish girl in English-speaking countries. Some Irish servant girls were called Biddie or Biddy by their employers even if that wasn't their real first name. It has been steadily used in the United States throughout the 20th century, though never among the top 100 most popular names for girls. It was most popular in the 1970s, when it ranked as the 153rd most popular name for girls born in that decade in the United States. In 2006, it was the 349th most popular female given name in the United States; in 2007 it fell to 357th place. It was ranked as the 367th most common name for girls and women in the United States in the 1990 census.[4][5]
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