Cosette
A girl's name of French origin with 2,964 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
plural of cosetta
Cosette is a girl's baby name of French origin, a French diminutive of Nicole or possibly from the Old French meaning 'little thing' or 'little one.' Cosette is immortalized as the orphan heroine of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables (1862) — the girl whose transformation from poverty to love is the novel's most tender story.
About 2,964 U.S. births are recorded. Cosette carries the full emotional weight of one of literature's most beloved stories while having a delicate, musical sound that works beautifully as a given name.
EtymologyShow more
Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Cosette is rooted in the French tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1912 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.
Cosette’s 2,964 recorded births suggest it has found a niche — possibly within a specific cultural community, region, or naming subculture within the broader American landscape.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Cosette climbed 810 spots in the last 20 years — from #2719 to #1909.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 511 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 1,035 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 621 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 297 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 60 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 58 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 72 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 133 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 57 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 29 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 42 | ▼ |
| 1910s | 49 | — |
The Story of Cosette
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2015, Cosette is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Cosette are most likely born between 2005 and 2024.
How rare is Cosette?
Only about 1 in every 34,615 babies born in 2024 was named Cosette — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1912, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2010s with 1,035 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Cosette by the numbers
- Would fill 62 school buses
- Meeting one Cosette per day would take 8.1 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(89 years, 1912–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 104 | #1909 |
| 2023 | 105 | #1890 |
| 2022 | 98 | #1993 |
| 2021 | 100 | #1957 |
| 2020 | 104 | #1859 |
| 2019 | 94 | #2035 |
| 2018 | 112 | #1819 |
| 2017 | 121 | #1744 |
| 2016 | 120 | #1735 |
| 2015 | 141 | #1554 |
| 2014 | 110 | #1841 |
| 2013 | 115 | #1778 |
| 2012 | 86 | #2194 |
| 2011 | 76 | #2422 |
| 2010 | 60 | #2873 |
| 2009 | 85 | #2289 |
| 2008 | 49 | #3385 |
| 2007 | 58 | #3026 |
| 2006 | 67 | #2672 |
| 2005 | 60 | #2766 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cosette a boy's or girl's name?
When was Cosette most popular?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1912–2024