Bernadette, of French and Occitan origin, is a name that has been popular for centuries. It is derived from the Germanic elements "ber-" meaning 'strong' or 'famous', and "-hard" meaning 'brave' or 'hardy'. The name gained prominence through its association with St. Bernadette Soubirous, to whom the Virgin Mary appeared in Lourdes, France in 1858.
"The name Bernardette peaked in popularity between 1951 and 1964, with a high of 12 births in 1964. However, it has been relatively uncommon overall, with fewer than 10 births in most years and a total of only 232 births over the span of these statistics."