Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Colette
GirlFrench, Greek· “victory of the people”
- Meaning
- victory of the people
- Origin
- French, Greek
- Pronunciation
- koh-LEHT
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #316
- US babies 2025
- 962
- Best rank
- #316 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Colette
Colette is a French and Greek name that means “victory of the people”.
Colette is a French diminutive of Nicole, the feminine form of Nicholas, which comes from Greek elements meaning "victory" and "people". Saint Colette of Corbie reformed the Poor Clares in fifteenth-century France. The name is strongly associated with the French novelist known simply as Colette, author of Gigi and the Claudine novels. In English-speaking countries Colette sounds chic, polished and distinctly French, with the stress on the final syllable. It is short enough to feel light and modern, yet it has a long history. Coco and Lettie are playful nicknames.
Famous parents who chose Colette: Olivia Culpo and Christian McCaffrey (2025). More celebrity baby names
Popularity over time
Colette first appears in US Social Security records in 1892. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 73 different years, starting in 1928. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #316, and its highest count, 962 babies. Use has grown 61% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #1,358 in 1920, #596 in 1950, #826 in 1980, #1,120 in 2000, #1,167 in 2010, and #316 in 2025. Of the 27,987 US girls named Colette since records began, 18% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 4,764 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Madisson, Elodie, Malani, Francesca, and Navy.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Colette ranked highest in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Colorado.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | #145 | 7 |
| Minnesota | #155 | 35 |
| Colorado | #167 | 35 |
| New Hampshire | #180 | 7 |
| Louisiana | #188 | 23 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Colette is usually pronounced koh-LEHT, with two syllables. It has seven letters, starts with C and ends in “-te”.
Middle names for Colette
A few middle names that flow with Colette: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Colette
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Lists that include Colette
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Colette mean?
Colette is a French and Greek name that means “victory of the people”.
What is the origin of the name Colette?
Colette has French and Greek roots. Colette is a French diminutive of Nicole, the feminine form of Nicholas, which comes from Greek elements meaning "victory" and "people".
Is Colette a popular name?
Yes. Colette ranked #316 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Colette a boy or girl name?
Colette is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Colette?
Colette is usually pronounced koh-LEHT. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings