Juliette
Juliette Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
/ʒy.ljɛt/
Meaning of Juliette: Juliette is the French diminutive of Julie (Julia), derived from the Latin family name Julius, from the prominent Roman clan. The etymology connects to the Greek ioulos (downy-bearded, youthful) or to an ancient connection with the sky god Jupiter.
The -ette suffix is a French diminutive meaning "little" or "dear one," making Juliette literally "dear little Julia." The name is inseparable from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (c. 1597), where the Italian form Giulietta was translated into the English Juliet.
Shakespeare's Juliet is arguably the most famous romantic heroine in the Western literary canon -- thirteen years old, brilliant, passionate, and destroyed by the feud between her family and Romeo's. Her "What's in a name?" speech (2.2.33-58) is the most quoted philosophical meditation on naming in all of English literature.
What Does Juliette Mean? Origin & Etymology
The French spelling Juliette became the standard in France and French-influenced cultures, while Juliet (without the final e) is more common in English-speaking countries. Both spellings are used in the US, with Juliette considered slightly more elaborate and Continental.
Juliette/Juliet combined entered the US top 100 in 2010, and the French spelling Juliette ranked 116th for girls in the US in 2024. Both spellings have benefited from the Shakespearean romance revival and from the fashion for French-influenced names with -ette endings, alongside names like Colette, Lisette, and Suzette.
Full etymology records and US popularity records at the Social Security Administration.
How Popular Is Juliette?
Numerology & Symbolism of Juliette
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Juliette – Similar Names & Alternatives
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Frequently Asked Questions about Juliette
What does the name Juliette mean?
Is Juliette different from Juliet?
Juliette (with a final e) is the French spelling. Juliet (without the e) is the English spelling used in Shakespeare's original text. Both are used in the US. Juliette is considered slightly more Continental and elaborate; Juliet slightly more literary and English. Both rank independently inside the US top 200.
How popular is Juliette in the United States?
Juliette ranked 116th for girls in the US in 2024. The spelling Juliet ranks separately at approximately rank 120. Combined, the Juliet/Juliette name family sits inside the top 80. Both spellings have climbed since 2010, benefiting from the romance revival and from the fashion for French -ette names.
Who is Shakespeare's Juliet, and what is the connection to the name Juliette?
Juliet Capulet is the fourteen-year-old (Shakespeare says thirteen) heroine of Romeo and Juliet (c. 1597). Her "What's in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet" speech is one of the most quoted lines in all of English literature. Shakespeare based the play on an Italian source; the character's name is Giulietta in Italian.