Bridget is an Irish female name derived from the Gaelic noun brígh, meaning "power, strength, vigor, virtue". An alternate meaning of the name is "exalted one". Its popularity, especially in Ireland, is largely related to the popularity of Saint Brigid of Kildare, who was so popular in Ireland she was known as "Mary of the Gael". This saint took on many of the characteristics of the early Celtic goddess Brigid, who was the goddess of agriculture and healing and possibly also of poetry and fire. One of her epithets was "Brigid of the Holy Fire". In German and Scandinavian countries, the popularity of the name spread due to Saint Bridget of Sweden. In the Irish language, the name is spelled Brighid or Bríd and is pronounced "breed" or "breej". In the Scottish Gaelic language, the name is spelled Brìghde and is pronounced "breej-eh" At one time the name was so popular for Irish girls that Bridey was used as a slang term for an Irish girl in English-speaking countries. Some Irish servant girls were called Biddie or Biddy by their employers even if that wasn't their real first name. It has been steadily used in the United States throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, though never among the top 100 most popular names for girls. It was most popular in the 1970s, when it ranked as the 153rd most popular name for girls born in that decade in the United States. It was ranked as the 367th most common name for girls and women in the United States in the 1990 census. People with the name Bridget Adams (1928–2019), English figure skater Bridget Allchin (1927–2017), English archaeologist Bridget Archer (born 1975), Australian politician Bridget Armstrong (born 1937), New Zealand actress Bridget S. Bade (born 1965), American judge and lawyer Bridget Barrett (died 1845), Irish murder victim Bridget Becker (born 1981), New Zealand curler Bridget Bedard, American producer and television writer Bridget Bendish (1650–1726), daughter of Bridget Cromwell Bridget Benenate, American songwriter Bridget Bevan (1698–1779), Welsh educationalist and public benefactor Bridget Bishop (c. 1632–1692), first person executed for witchcraft during the Salem witch trials Bridget Boakye, Ghanaian data scientist, entrepreneur and writer Bridget Boland (1913–1988), Irish novelist, playwright and screenwriter Bridget Breiner (born 1974), American dancer and choreographer Bridget M. Brennan (born 1974), American judge and lawyer Bridget Brind, British diplomat Bridget A. Brink, American diplomat Bridget Buckley (born 1955), English