Odette

Odette is a female first name that carries the meanings 'the owner' or 'the heir'. This French name has its roots in Old High German and derives as a diminutive from the Germanic girl's name Oda, which is the female equivalent of the name Otto.

What does the name Odette mean?

The name Odette, commonly used in French, means 'the owner' or 'the heir'. Its origin can be found in Old High German, where it emerged as a diminutive of the girl's name Oda, which is considered the feminine counterpart of Otto. The Old High German root 'ot' can be translated as 'possession', 'inheritance', or 'wealth'. In line with the French diminutive form, Odette could also be understood as 'the little possession' or 'the little inheritance'. The name Oda appears in the medieval Nibelungenlied, where it is borne by Kriemhild's mother. In Germany, the form Odetta is often used. Other variants include Odina, Odine, Odila, Odilberta, Odilgard, and Odalinde. The name has, similar to Henrike, Carla, and Wilhelmine, experienced a French influence and returned to Germany with the ending 'tte'. However, in the case of Wilhelmine, the ending 'tte' was not added in France.

Where does the name Odette come from?

The etymology of Odette lies in Old High German. The underlying word 'ot' can be interpreted as 'the possession', 'the inheritance', or 'the wealth'. Thus, the Old High German root 'ot' stands for possession, inheritance, or wealth. The language in which this name is prevalent is French.

How do you pronounce Odette?

The sound quality and pronunciation of Odette are elegant and range from two to three syllables. In the pronunciation 'O-det-te' [oˈdɛtə], the double consonant -tt- emphasizes the structured accent. The soft -e sound at the end provides a harmonious conclusion. This makes Odette appear classic and graceful, clearly structured and soft in resonance.

When is the name day of Odette?

The name days for Odette are celebrated on March 1, October 3, and November 27.

Popularity

Odette is a fairly common first name in Germany. Currently, it ranks 3,210th in the list of the most popular female first names. Its best placement was in 2015, reaching 1,798th. In the last ten years, Odette has been given as a first name about 90 times, placing it 2,674th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 3,119th.

Nicknames & pet names

Dettchen / Dette / Detti / Dettl / Detty / Oddi / Ode / Odett / Odi / Odie

Famous people

• Odette (character from 'The Sea Queen')
• Odette Annable (actress)
• Odette Bancilhon (astronomer)
• Odette Bereska (dramaturge)
• Odette de Champdivers (French mistress)
• Odette Drand (French fencer)
• Odette Du Puigaudeau (French writer)
• Odette Dulac (French singer)
• Odette Eid (Lebanese sculptor)
• Odette Fabius (author)
• Odette Ferreira (microbiologist)
• Odette Gartenlaub (pianist)
• Odette Joyeux (writer)
• Odette Lapierre (marathon runner)
• Odette Lusien (American swimmer)
• Odette Micheli (writer)
• Odette Myrtil (French actress)
• Odette Sansom (British agent)
• Odette Talazac (French actress)
• Odette Tchernine (writer)