Colette
Female nameFrench
✨ Meaning
Colette is a French diminutive of Nicolette, itself the feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike,' victory, and 'laos,' people. The full sense is therefore 'victory of the people,' compressed into two crisp French syllables. The name is a good example of how French naming took long Greek compounds and shortened them into something light without discarding the original meaning.
🌍 Origin
Saint Colette of Corbie, a fifteenth-century French reformer of the Poor Clares, established the name in Catholic France. It gained literary standing through the novelist known simply as Colette, one of the most important French writers of the twentieth century. The name has drawn steady interest from English-speaking parents since the 2010s as short French names came back into favour.
📈 Popularity Trend
⭐ Famous People Named Colette
- Colette
- Colette Maze
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does Colette mean?
Colette means 'victory of the people,' a French diminutive of Nicolette from the Greek 'nike' and 'laos.'
How is Colette pronounced?
In French it is ko-LET, with equal weight on both syllables and a light final t. English speakers use the same sound.
Is Colette related to Nicole?
Yes. Both descend from Nicholas, Nicole through the feminine form and Colette through the diminutive Nicolette.