Meaning and Origin of Bridget

While not as popular as it once was, the name Bridget remains a strong one. In fact, coming from the Gaelic name Brighid, the meaning of Bridget is “power, strength, vigor, virtue.”

Popularity

Throughout the 20th century, it has been regularly used in the the United States, but it has never broken into the top 100 most popular names for girls. It is still widely used in Ireland, but not as widely as it once was. At one time, the name was so popular in Ireland that Irish girls were known as Biddy in many English-speaking countries.

It remains more widely used in Ireland, England and Scotland than other parts of the world, but the name Bridget is not currently one of the 100 most popular names here.

Famous People Call Bridget

There have been numerous famous Bridgets, starting with St. Brigid of Kildare, who lived in the 5th and 6th centuries. The pupil of St. Patrick is said to be buried in his grave with him. From there, the name spread to England and Scotland where a number of churches were founded under the St. Bride form of her name.

Other famous Bridgets include Bridget Fonda, Bridget Jones and Bridget Bardot.

Useful Resources

• Our comprehensive list of Scottish girls names.
• Expecting a baby then see  these Hot offers on Baby products.