Colette
Girl name · #316 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Colette? In official American birth records, Colette has been tracked continuously since 1892, giving it 133 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 962 baby girls were named Colette, placing it at #316 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #525, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,871 girls born in 2025 was named Colette.
The 133-year story
Colette first appears in the Social Security records in 1892, when 5 girls received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 962 babies and a rank of #316. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Colette per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Colette against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Colette in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Colette is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Colette is most common
Geography matters for names, and Colette is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Colette is most common in MN (1.6 per 1,000), CO (1.5 per 1,000), LA (1.4 per 1,000), WI (1.2 per 1,000), OR (1.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.7 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Colette is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Colette
Statistically, parents drawn to Colette tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Arlette, Juliette, Odette, Violette, and Celeste.
ArletteJulietteOdetteVioletteCelesteCharleeCelineCamilla
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Colette | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 962 | #316 |
| 2024 | 790 | #401 |
| 2023 | 699 | #442 |
| 2022 | 698 | #452 |
| 2021 | 686 | #456 |
| 2020 | 568 | #531 |
| 2019 | 630 | #497 |
| 2018 | 587 | #535 |
| 2017 | 585 | #529 |
| 2016 | 677 | #470 |
| 2015 | 597 | #525 |
| 2014 | 590 | #522 |
| 2013 | 458 | #613 |
| 2012 | 426 | #663 |
| 2011 | 240 | #1036 |
| 2010 | 208 | #1165 |
| 2009 | 208 | #1205 |
| 2008 | 191 | #1299 |
| 2007 | 152 | #1517 |
| 2006 | 161 | #1403 |
| 2005 | 150 | #1425 |
| 2004 | 154 | #1363 |
| 2003 | 135 | #1454 |
| 2002 | 151 | #1297 |
| 2001 | 182 | #1147 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Colette?
In official American birth records, the name Colette first appeared in 1892 (over 133 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Colette a popular girl name?
Colette ranked #316 among girls in 2025 with 962 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #525.
When was the name Colette most popular?
Colette peaked in 2025, when 962 American girls received the name (ranked #316 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Colette?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,871 newborn American girls was named Colette. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.