Bridget

Bridget is a feminine given name of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic Brigid (Old Irish Brigit). The name is connected to Saint Brigid of Kildare, a 5th‑century Christian saint who helped establish monasteries in Ireland. The meaning of Brigid is often linked to exalted, fiery, or powerful, reflecting the goddess Brigid of hearth, healing, and smithcraft in pre-Christian myth. Variants include Brigid, Brigita, Brigida, and the French Brigitte.

Bridget is used primarily in English‑speaking countries and in Ireland and the United Kingdom. In the United States the Bridget spelling is common, while Brigid remains common in Ireland and Brigitte in parts of Europe. The name has had several popularity cycles, with peaks in recent decades driven in part by cultural figures and fictional characters.

Notable people with the name include Bridget Fonda, an American actress; Bridget Moynahan, an American actress and model; and Bridget Riley, an English painter associated with Op art. Fictional figures include Bridget Jones, the lead character in Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary and its film adaptations.

Bridget is often used as a standalone name; it is also the basis for related names and surnames in various languages. The root Brigid remains a central link to its mythic and religious origins.