UK girl's name
Bridie
A feminine diminutive of Bridget, from the Irish name Bríd meaning "exalted one".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Bridie is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Bridie popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1603, with 19 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 78 births.
This profile covers 988 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 24% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 982 living people in the UK are called Bridie. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Bridie ranked #1603 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 19 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 78 girls were registered as Bridie.
- • About 982 living people in the UK are estimated to have Bridie as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1603
2024
Births in 2024
19
Latest year
Peak year
1997
78 births
Estimated living
982
2026
Meaning
What does Bridie mean?
The name Bridie is derived from the Irish Gaelic name Brighid, which has its origins in the ancient Celtic culture. Brighid was the name of a revered Irish goddess associated with spring, fertility, and poetry. The name likely has roots in the Proto-Celtic word "brig", meaning "exalted" or "high".
The name Brighid was later adopted as a Christian name, as the pagan goddess was reinterpreted as St. Brigid of Kildare, one of the patron saints of Ireland. St. Brigid lived in the 5th century and is renowned for founding several monasteries, including the famous Kildare Abbey.
The earliest recorded use of the name Bridie dates back to the 12th century, when it appeared as a diminutive form of Brighid. It was particularly popular in Ireland, Scotland, and parts of England during the Middle Ages.
One notable figure with the name Bridie was Bridie Lonie (1898-1971), a Scottish singer and actress who performed on stage and in films. Another was Bridie Gallagher (1924-2012), an Irish singer and actress known as "The Girl from Donegal".
In the literary world, Bridie Murphy (1950-) is an Irish novelist and short story writer who has won several awards for her work. Bridie Nicholson (1967-) is an Australian author and illustrator of children's books.
Historically, the name Bridie has also been associated with religion. Bridie Doherty (1920-2002) was an Irish nun who served as a missionary in India for over 50 years and was known for her work with the poor.
These are just a few examples of the notable individuals who have borne the name Bridie throughout history, reflecting its enduring popularity and cultural significance, particularly in Celtic and Irish traditions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Bridie over time
The chart below shows babies named Bridie registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Bridie, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 19 births in 2024, compared with 78 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bridie by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Bridie was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #1588 | 94 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1435 | 221 | 10 |
| 2000s | #820 | 382 | 10 |
| 1990s | #424 | 291 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Bridie
- Bethany 43,226
- Brooke 18,370
- Bella 14,112
- Bonnie 12,149
- Beatrice 11,306
- Bethan 7,968
- Beth 6,440
- Betsy 5,065
- Beatrix 4,317
- Billie 4,220
- Beau 3,231
- Bryony 3,167
FAQ
Bridie: questions and answers
How popular is the name Bridie in the UK right now?
In 2024, Bridie was ranked #1603 for girls in England and Wales, with 19 births registered.
When was Bridie most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 78 babies registered as Bridie in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Bridie?
A feminine diminutive of Bridget, from the Irish name Bríd meaning "exalted one".
How many people are called Bridie in the UK?
A total of 988 babies have been registered as Bridie across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.