[name_f]My[/name_f] husband came across the name [name_f]Bernadette[/name_f] and recommended it. I’m speechless, and I’m taken back with little of an opinion on the name. I’m not first certain why I don’t want to love this name, maybe, you all can give me a hand on this… What are your thoughts on [name_f]Bernadette[/name_f]? What is your first reaction (icky/clunky/dated/sleek/boring ect.)? When you hear the name, what type of person/era comes to mind? Look/feel? ect… Thank you for commenting! 
I kind of like it. I met a high school volleyball player named [name_f]Bernadette[/name_f] nn [name_u]Bernie[/name_u] last year. I don’t like [name_u]Bernie[/name_u] as a nickname, but I like the name as a whole - it seems rather chic and slightly [name_m]French[/name_m] (even though it’s [name_m]German[/name_m]), like a curly-haired Parisian sculptor or a dark-haired chocolate conoisseur living in a chateau in Switzerland. It’s also a cute character on Big Bang, for bonus points. I give [name_f]Bernadette[/name_f] a thumbs up! [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] might be a cute nickname in place of [name_u]Bernie[/name_u].
I think it is very refreshing and classy. It sure beats [name_u]Addison[/name_u]/[name_u]Madison[/name_u]/[name_f]McKayla[/name_f]/[name_f]Mckenzie[/name_f] etc
Definitely agree that [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] would be much cuter of a nn than [name_u]Bernie[/name_u]. I think she would be a very classy, level-headed and intelligent girl and woman.
I think that it’s great. I think of it as a clunky cool hipster name and I picture it on a girl who is pretty and bookish and kind of a loner. I like the Catholic old-school vibe, but I picture it as more of a name that a hip less-religious family would pick, really. I think it has a great list of potential nicknames. If [name_u]Bernie[/name_u] doesn’t work for you, why not [name_f]Bette[/name_f], [name_f]Betty[/name_f], [name_f]Betsy[/name_f], [name_f]Bunny[/name_f] even?
I think of [name_f]Bernadette[/name_f] off of Big Bang [name_m]Theory[/name_m] because that’s the only place I’ve seen/heard it specifically. It think her characters is cute, upbeat, and quirky so it gives me positive vibes on the name. I second [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] as a nn I quite like [name_u]Bernie[/name_u] as well
[name_f]Bernadette[/name_f] to me is a chic, poised British lady in her mid fifties.
It’s a tad difficult for me to imagine a little girl with this name… maybe a nickname would help? [name_u]Bertie[/name_u] is super cute! As are [name_f]Birdie[/name_f], Naddy, and even [name_f]Bette[/name_f]! Or there is [name_f]Etta[/name_f] or even [name_f]Dot[/name_f].
I think it is sophisticated and feminine.
I like [name_f]Bernadette[/name_f], also [name_f]Annette[/name_f] and [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f]. I guess I just like names ending in “ette” - they sound feminine and pretty to me. However, in the end I would probably only use a name like that for a middle name.
I like it, more for a middle name (though for the most part I like shorter first names, so that could just be a habit of mine). The name itself reminds me of actress [name_f]Bernadette[/name_f] Peters, à la Rodgers & Hammerstein’s [name_f]Cinderella[/name_f]. I think of a girl with a sweet, yet slightly mischievous personality.
I think of [name_f]Bernadette[/name_f] Peters then [name_f]Bernadette[/name_f] from Big Bang [name_m]Theory[/name_m]. I don’t dislike it but the nn [name_u]Bernie[/name_u] would be a deal breaker for me.
I think it’s clunky but chic. I like it but I agree I don’t like [name_u]Bernie[/name_u] too much, I would go with [name_f]Betty[/name_f] or [name_f]Birdie[/name_f]
Okay, so I’m going to be the odd one out and say that I really don’t like this name. It’s frumpy, old and unappealing to look at and to hear. I know it’s currently “trendy” to use these names, but in some cases, like this one, I really don’t get the appeal sorry.
If I think of a lady named [name_u]Bernie[/name_u], it makes me think of a 50 year old, massive body-builder type, who I wouldn’t want to run into in a dark alley. [name_f]Betty[/name_f] and [name_f]Betsy[/name_f] make me think of silly blonde airheads. I do like [name_f]Birdie[/name_f], but I don’t think it would age- I wouldn’t take a lawyer or a professor named [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] seriously.
I dislike it, sorry. I find it dated, clunky and unattractive. I can only picture an extremely catholic 50/60 year old woman.
I’ve tried to like [name_f]Bernadette[/name_f], but still have no feeling toward it. It does feel kinda retro/clunky. I went to school with a [name_f]Bernadette[/name_f] who went by [name_u]Bernie[/name_u], but I much prefer the suggested nickname of [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] which is sweet.
I’ve always quite liked this name, and honestly I don’t really know why. It’s rather unlike most of my favourite names, and I usually quite dislike ‘ette’ endings. I know it is a little clunky, but that’s never really stopped me from liking it. I do really hate the nickname [name_u]Bernie[/name_u] though. I like [name_f]Betty[/name_f] and [name_f]Etta[/name_f], but my favourite nickname for [name_f]Bernadette[/name_f] is [name_u]Bennie[/name_u].
I like it. I don’t think I’ll ever use it myself but I am always glad when I hear someone’s considering it. [name_f]Bernadette[/name_f] needs to be used more, imo. I knew two people with this name. One is my friend from junior high school (her nickname is [name_f]Nadette[/name_f]) and the other one is a catholic nun. I always imagine [name_f]Bernadette[/name_f] as a kind, sweet girl.
i think st. bernies…like a catholic school basketball team…maybe find something similar but better nicknames…the letters do look pretty though, maybe look for ette names, violette, etc
I really like [name_f]Bernadette[/name_f]. I used to think it too clunky, but for some reason that changed. I love -ette names. I like the meaning. I imagine an artist, an intellectual, someone with a non-traditional beauty. Someone else mentioned this, but I always think it has a chic french feel.
I found all your comments fascinating and some humorous. While I never thought of Bernadette as a body builder, I had seen many Betty/Bettie/Bettey/Bette’s to be masculine and a little crazy, nothing like Ugly Betty the show.
I like the nickname Nadette, that is very chic and makes the name tolerable to me. Nettie/Nessie are cute/quirky options.
As someone mentioned the name being German, that is the vibe I got too mixed with the 20-30’s depression era, slightly frumpy and under educated. Most of the elderly Bernadette’s I was familiar with were very country. HOWEVER, now that I had read your comments about the Big Bang Theory, which did not cross my mind, I do see Bernadette in a better light. I think, as I mentioned above, Nadette, really make the name a bit more user friendly with a sleeker appealing factor.
I’m still not certain if its my #1 choice, but I’ll mull it over and place it on my list with Celedine, Severine, Ernestina, and Astrid.
Thank you all for your commentary!
[name_f]Bernadette[/name_f] is a total guilty pleasure name for me! I love, love, love it! I would use [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] as a nickname.