Babette

It has been noted that this is also a Dutch name, however I believe a variation that is specific to The Netherlands is Babet (essentially a different spelling). Unfortunately, a storm named this blew through the UK in October 2023 and caused a lot of damage, particularly in eastern parts of Scotland. Storms are given names to make it easier for people to take notice and monitor them. It’s worth noting though that the name for the storm was actually put forward by a Dutch lady, of the same name and spelling, visiting The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, in recognition that she was born during a storm. This is actually a beautiful thing - it’s a reminder that something positive, like life being brought into the world, can happen even when destruction is happening all around.

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Personally I prefer the Dutch “Babet” spelling, and I like to pronounce it “BAB-et”. I hadn’t come across it before the storm arrived, and that doesn’t put me off - it’s a very likeable name and these things are only negative if you let them be. I would totally be happy with having a daughter called this.

This is a very funny looking name.

This name is hilariously ugly.

The movie Babette's Feast made me aware of this name when I was in college. I love it -- feminine but with some strength. And I usually don't like "B" names.

Silly name.

I actually like this name. It's vintage and rare. If I ever used it then I would use it as a middle name.

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I also think that the nicknames Babs and Betty are nice.

It's gross. In Croatian babeta/babetina means old grandma.

Meh.

My middle name is Babette. My father always thought it meant baby as I was to be last of their four-child family. However, I think my mother was having a go at him when it was chosen. Her name was Barbara (now deceased), and I like to think she may have picked it as a joke as he had claimed me as "his" child since my older three siblings had a close relationship with my mother and he had been their aloof father figure (his words). I was born in the early '70s, and my parents divorced by the time I was 5. Mum remarried and had a fifth child, and I stayed with my father. I did not initially like my middle name, but in my late teens, I embraced it and began hyphenating it with my first name. That didn't last long though as my middle name was often (and still is) met with awkward laughter.

VERY cute and retro. I dig it.

It reminds me of "babe" and "bye-bye".

Babette is one of my guilty pleasure names. I think it sounds old-fashioned and elegant, but I wouldn't consider using it for a child.

My close friend since kindergarten has this name, and we went to high school with another girl named Babette. I'm the only person who still calls her by her whole name; she introduces herself as Babs. I think of her nickname as sounding harsh and her full name as feminine and euphonious.

I loathe this name. Sounds like 'Baboon'.

Hi... my name is Babette! I am in my 40s.. my Creole grandmother named me and I LOVE MY NAME! I have never met anyone personally with this name although people have told me about old school mates or acquaintances with the same name! I only get compliments on my name or a very shocked "wow that's unusual". I only wish it had a more fabulous origin or meaning for it is SO BEAUTIFUL!

Babette is my middle name and I happen to like it and nobody has made fun of me because of it and my mother told me that it is French for baby, but I'm not sure about that. It is a nice name.

I honestly do like this name. It's decent at the least. And Babs is an adorable nickname, with a similar appeal that Mags/Maggie has as a nickname.

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My only concern is that it'd be mispronounced as Babe-ette, which sounds really cheesy and not like a name...

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Maybe Miette instead?

This name reminds me of a female cartoon rabbit. But I also picture this on a character who is beautiful but stupid.

I think it's a really sweet name!

Wow, what's brought on all this Babette hatred?! I actually think it's a really pretty and elegant name, but sweet at the same time. It reminds me of Louis de Pointe du Lac's love interest from "Interview With The Vampire" and also of a sweet, intelligent, turn-of-the-century French girl. Babette is a beautiful name!

Wow. Jesus, who would name their kid this? It sounds like "baguette" to me.

This is. An odd name. But you have to admit, it's not NEARLY as odd as a million other names. For soem reason it sounds like "bobbin" to me.

This sounds like a ditzy name from the 1950s.

That is the ugliest name I've ever seen. Please, don't name your poor child Babette or else they will be made fun of and people would always say what an ugly name. If that were my name I would go to court and ask if my name can be changed.

This name always remind me of somebody's fancy French poodle with pink bows in her hair and painted toenails. The kind of dog who is carried around and cooed over by a little old rich lady, but whose bark could wake the dead and who wets the floor whenever she gets excited.