"wealth, fortune"
Origin: Germanic via French
Language: English
Odette
Pronunciation: [ ohd-EHT ]
Does Odette flow with your last name?
The elegant Swan Queen name from ballet and Proust
French
English
American
Belgian
Elegant
Vintage
Classic
Literary
Sophisticated
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Odette
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Odette
2 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
"prosperous, rich"
Origin: Old German (Oda)
Language: French
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Odette
See all →What the Odette report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Odette the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Keep Odette
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Odette head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Odette actually gets called.
Browse nicknames →
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
The Story of Odette
Odette is a French feminine name derived from the Old German name Oda or Uda, meaning 'wealth' or 'fortune.' It is a diminutive of the Germanic root 'aud' which appears in many medieval European names. The name came to international prominence through Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake (1876), where Odette is the Swan Queen — a beautiful princess cursed to spend her days as a white swan, only returning to human form at night.
Odette rose significantly in English-speaking countries in the 2010s as parents rediscovered French vintage names. The character of Odette in Swan Lake gave it enduring cultural resonance, and it fits perfectly with the broader revival of French names ending in '-ette' like Colette, Cosette, and Yvette.
In France, Odette has deep literary and cultural roots beyond ballet — Odette de Crécy is one of the central characters in Marcel Proust's 'In Search of Lost Time,' one of the greatest novels ever written. The name thus carries both balletic grace and literary gravitas.
Historical Record
Odette first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 2,995 babies have been named Odette in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Odette is rising quickly in popularity , currently ranked #1,218 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Odette is the white swan (good) in Swan Lake; Odile is the black swan (evil) — both played by the same dancer
- Odette appears in Proust's 'In Search of Lost Time' as Swann's beloved, one of literature's most analyzed characters
- WWII French resistance heroine Odette Sansom was awarded the George Cross for her courage under torture by the Gestapo
Odette in Other Languages
Dutch
Odette
German
Odette
Italian
Odetta
Russian
Одетта
Spanish
Odette
Popularity Over Time
#1,218
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Rising Fast
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Odette
O
Odette Annable
Actor
1985
American actress known for House, Cloverfield, and Supergirl
O
Odette Sansom
Military
1912
French-born British Special Operations Executive agent in WWII, awarded the George Cross for resisting Gestapo torture
O
Odette (Swan Lake) Fictional
Other
The Swan Queen protagonist of Tchaikovsky's 1876 ballet Swan Lake, a princess cursed to become a white swan
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
May
Girl
"beloved (short form of Mary)"
#1,351
Lauryn
Girl
"from the city of Laurentum"
#1,111
Arizbeth
Girl
"God is my oath, God is abundance"
#1,396
Rubi
Girl
"blood red, vibrant red"
#1,098
Maple
Girl
"maple tree"
#1,190
Compare Odette with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #1,218
- Total SSA Count
- 193
- Cultural Origins
- French English American Belgian
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Formal
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Common Nicknames
Odie
Dettie
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, French heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Odette
6 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Odette fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Similar Names
See all names like Odette →For Parents
amz
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Odette with...
Same Origin Names (French)
See all French names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Odette
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Odette and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Odette sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
May
Girl
Hebrew origin
"beloved (short form of Mary)"
#1,351 in US
Lauryn
Girl
Latin origin
"from the city of Laurentum"
#1,111 in US
Arizbeth
Girl
Hebrew (via Elizabeth) origin
"God is my oath, God is abundance"
#1,396 in US
Rubi
Girl
Latin ruber origin
"blood red, vibrant red"
#1,098 in US
Maple
Girl
Old English origin
"maple tree"
#1,190 in US
Kollins
Girl
Irish Gaelic Coileán origin
"young one, puppy (young animal)"
#1,373 in US
Beatrix
Girl
Latin origin
"she who brings happiness"
#1,378 in US
Ellen
Girl
Ancient Greek origin
"sunlight, moon (alternate etymology)"
#1,032 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Odette's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Odette
What does the name Odette mean?
"wealth, fortune" (from Germanic via French). "prosperous, rich" (from Old German (Oda)). Odette is a French feminine name derived from the Old German name Oda or Uda, meaning 'wealth' or 'fortune.' It is a diminutive of the Germanic root 'aud' which appears in many medieval European names. The name came to international prominence through Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake (1876), where Odette is the Swan Queen — a beautiful princess cursed to spend her days as a white swan, only returning to human form at night.
What is the origin of the name Odette?
Odette has Germanic via French, Old German (Oda), French, English, American, and Belgian origins. In Germanic via French, it means "wealth, fortune". In Old German (Oda), it means "prosperous, rich".
Is Odette a boy or girl name?
Odette is primarily used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Odette?
Odette is pronounced ohd-EHT.
How popular is the name Odette?
Odette is currently ranked #1218 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Odette?
Common nicknames for Odette include Odie and Dettie.
What are good middle names for Odette?
Popular middle name pairings include Odette Rose, Odette Claire, Odette Louise, Odette Marguerite, Odette Cecile, and Odette Elise.
What are good sibling names for Odette?
Names that pair well with Odette as siblings include Colette, Bastien, Sylvie, Marcel, Eloise, and Remy.
How many syllables does Odette have?
Odette has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Odette a common or rare name?
Odette is an uncommon name, ranked #1218 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
About the Name Odette
Odette is a girl name with French, English, American, and Belgian origins . The name means "wealth, fortune" in Germanic via French .
Odette is currently ranked #1,218 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Odette has 2 syllables and is pronounced ohd-EHT, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Odette include Odie and Dettie. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Keep Exploring
Germanic via French Names
Browse all names with this origin
O
Names Starting with O
More girl names like Odette
Rising Names
Names gaining popularity right now
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Girl Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Recommended for Parents
amz
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis