Meaning: Its source is Brigit, a Gaelic name meaning "Exalted one."

Languages: This girl's name is used in English.

Nicknames: Bridi, Britt, Britta, Brydie and Bridie

Alternative Spellings: Briddgett, Bridgete, Bridgett, Bridgette, Bridgit, Briget, Brigett, Brigette and Briggette

Variant Forms: Bridgid, Bridgitte, Bridgot, Briggitte, Bright, Brigid, Brigitte, Labridget and Bride

Non-English Forms: Birgit, Brigida, Brigitta, Brygid, Brites, Brigita and Birgitte

Source Forms: Brigit

Popularity: The name Bridget ranked 287th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 369th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

This name is highly rated in the 1990 U.S. Census popularity survey of all ages, but after 1960 does not appear in the state data listing the most popular baby names.

Narrative: In pre-Christian Irish mythology, Brigit was the goddess of poetry.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, several Irish missionaries with this name gained fame, and eventually sainthood, for re-introducing Christianity to Northern Europe. Their widespread influence helps explain the widespread popularity of this name, and the development of its many forms and spellings.