Cosette (given name)

Cosette

Nowadays Cosette is derived essentially from the name Euphrasie the heroine of Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.
Gender Female
Origin
Word/name Old French
Other names
Related names Cosetta and Cozette

Cosette is a feminine given name, is pronounced koh-ZETT.[1] It is of French origin, is best known as the heroine of "Les Misérables" (1862) by Victor Hugo, Cosette was the nickname given to the girl named Euphrasie (is only mentioned briefly) by her mother. As the orphaned child of an unmarried mother deserted by her father.

The meaning

Cosette in modern name dictionaries give the meaning as "victorious," but it doesn't appear to have been in use as a first name until after Hugo published Les Miserables, although "Cozette" sometimes appeared as a surname. Victor Hugo said he created Cosette from "chosette", meaning "little thing"[2] in French.

Literary: in Victor Hugo's musical "Les Misérables", Cosette is the female romantic lead and Jean Valjean's beloved adopted daughter.[3]

The popularity

Cosette in Broadhurst Theatre, New York City
Sculpture of Cosette with her doll by Marthe La-Fizeliere-Ritti

The name Cosette is of French origin, and is used mostly in English speaking countries,[4] as the novel of "Misérables" the name also got international position in other countries and languages of the world.

Despite the popularity of Les Misérables the musical, the name was given to only seventy-five girls in 2011.[5]

Notes

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cosette by Emile Bayard.
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