claudette

Claudette is a feminine given name of French origin. It is a diminutive form of Claude, which comes from the Latin Claudius. The suffix -ette in French commonly marks a small or familiar version, so Claudette is often interpreted as “little Claude.”

Notable people with the name include Claudette Colbert (1903–1996), an American actress who won the Academy Award for It Happened One Night in 1934. Another well-known bearer is Claudette Colvin (born 1939), an American civil rights figure whose refusal to surrender her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus helped catalyze the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Usage and cultural presence: Claudette has enjoyed particular popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century and has been used in Francophone regions as well. In modern times, it is less common but continues to be used by some families. The name has also appeared in fiction and media, where it is chosen for characters in literature, film, and other works, reflecting its established mid-century associations.

See also: Claude, Claudius, Claudette Rogers Robinson.