Bronte

bron-tay

Greek

"thunder"

Bronte Origin and Meaning

The name Bronte is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning "thunder".

This lovely surname of the three novel-writing sisters, now used as a baby name, makes a fitting tribute for lovers of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. While the original name took an umlaut over the e, modern English speakers may find that more trouble than it's worth. Trivia note: The Anglo-Irish clergyman who was the father of Charlotte, Emily and Anne changed his name from the original Brunty. According to scholars, the family pronounced the name brun-tee, though in the 21st century world it's commonly pronounced bron-tay. In Australia, the name is more likely to take inspiration from Bronte Beach in Sydney. It was named after Lord Nelson, the 1st Duke of Bronté. He got his title from a town in Sicily, itself named after a mythological Cyclops.

Many people first noticed the name in the film Green Card, as the name of the Andie MacDowell character.

• 772 Nameberry 2021
• 816 England 2017