Girl name · Greek
Colette
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: victory of the peopleColette is a girl's name that comes from Greek and means "victory of the people". It is used in French and English.
- Meaning
- Victory of the people
- Origin
- Greek
- Gender
- Girl
- Say it
- koh-LET (French)
Meaning and origin of Colette
As a girl's name, Colette comes from Greek and means "victory of the people". It is used in French and English.
In French, say koh-LET. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Colette on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Colette on 4 lists.
“French novelist who adored cats and wrote La Chatte”
From Cat names, literary cat names
“Victory of the people; Greek, via Nicolette. Say koh-LET”
From French girl names, vintage French girl names
“Victory of the people; Greek. French and playful. Say koh-LET”
From Girl middle names, flowing middle names for girls
“Victory of the people; Greek. Shared with the bold French novelist”
From Strong female names, names that mean victory
How popular is Colette?
- US rank in 2025
- #316
- 962 babies, 599 per million girls
- Best rank
- #316 in 2025
- 962 babies that year
- Babies since 1892
- At least 27,987
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 17 per million |
| 1900s | 26 per million |
| 1910s | 31 per million |
| 1920s | 39 per million |
| 1930s | 70 per million |
| 1940s | 83 per million |
| 1950s | 191 per million |
| 1960s | 261 per million |
| 1970s | 161 per million |
| 1980s | 104 per million |
| 1990s | 79 per million |
| 2000s | 90 per million |
| 2010s | 286 per million |
| 2020s | 453 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #470 | #530 | #535 | #497 | #532 | #456 | #452 | #442 | #401 | #316 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Colette
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- NickyVictory of the people (Greek, girl)
- NicoleVictory of the people (Greek, girl)
- NicolettaVictory of the people (Greek, girl)
- NicoletteVictory of the people (Greek, girl)
- NikolaVictory of the people (Greek, girl)
Names spelled like Colette
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- CelesteHeavenly, of the sky (Latin, girl)
Names with a similar meaning
- ViktoriaVictory, triumph (Latin, girl)
- BereniceBringing victory (Greek, girl)
- KlausVictory of the people (Greek, boy)
- NicoVictory of the people (Greek, boy)
- VeronikaBringing victory (Latin, girl)
- KlaasVictory of the people (Greek, boy)
- NielsVictory of the people (Greek, boy)
- NiklasVictory of the people (Greek, boy)
- SigmundVictory protection (Old Norse, boy)
- SigridBeautiful victory (Old Norse, girl)
Middle names for Colette
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More girl names from Greek
- AlexandraDefender of men (Greek, girl)
- ElenaForm of Helen, probably from Greek torch (Greek, girl)
- IrenePeace, tranquility (Greek, girl)
- IrisA rainbow (Greek, girl)
- SofiaWisdom, skill (Greek, girl)
- SophieWisdom, skill (Greek, girl)
- ZoeLife, living (Greek, girl)
- AnastasiaResurrection, rising again (Greek, girl)
- ChristinaFollower of Christ (Greek, girl)
- PetraRock, stone (Greek, girl)
Colette: common questions
What does the name Colette mean?
Colette comes from Greek and means "victory of the people".
Is Colette a boy or girl name?
Colette is mainly a girl's name.
Where does the name Colette come from?
Colette comes from Greek and means "victory of the people". Today it is used in French and English.
How do you pronounce Colette?
In French, say koh-LET. Pronunciation can vary between languages and regions.
How popular is the name Colette?
Colette ranked #316 in the US in 2025, with 962 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Colette?
Forms of Colette with the same meaning and origin include Nicky (English), Nicole (English), Nicoletta (Italian), Nicolette (French) and Nikola (Polish).
What middle names go with Colette?
Middle names that flow well with Colette include Briar, Elise, Grace, Honor and Ivy. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.