What Does the Name Odette Mean?
Odette is a French diminutive of Oda or Odilia, ultimately from the Germanic root "od," meaning "wealth" or "fortune" — the same root behind the name Otto. It's generally translated as "wealthy" or "prosperous."
The Origin & History of Odette
The name's best-known cultural association is the ballet Swan Lake, where Odette is the enchanted Swan Queen at the heart of the story. That association has shaped much of the name's romantic, graceful image in popular use.
Cultural Reach
Beyond ballet, Odette carries real historical weight through Odette Sansom, a decorated Second World War heroine, giving the name a layer of courage alongside its fairy-tale associations.
Personality & Traits
Odette reads as elegant and graceful, carrying both the romance of its ballet namesake and a quieter sense of strength from its real-world bearer.
Famous People Named Odette
Odette Sansom (1912–1995), also known as Odette Hallowes, was a British Special Operations Executive agent who worked undercover in occupied France during the Second World War. Captured and tortured, she survived imprisonment at Ravensbrück and became the first woman to receive the George Cross.
Popularity as a Given Name
SSA data recorded 193 girls named Odette in the US in 2024, up from 182 in 2023 — a steady, modest riser.
Nicknames & Variants
Odet is a close spelling variant. Oda and Odilia are the related root names from which Odette is diminutively formed.