Gillette is a French feminine given name, a form of Gilles. This name ultimately traces its roots to Giles, which derives from the Late Latin name Aegidius, from the Greek αἰγίδιον (aigidion) meaning "young goat." Setting aside its modern association with the well-known American shaving brand founded by King C. Gillette in 1901, the name Gillette as a personal name has a distinct history in French culture. Etymology and Origins The name can be seen as a feminine derivative of Gilles, the French version of Giles. Giles (from Aegidius) was borne by Saint Giles, an 8th-century miracle worker who migrated from Greece to southern France and became the patron saint of the crippled. The name was also used by notable figures such as Giles of Rome, a 13th-century philosopher and theologian. As a feminine form, Gillette would likely have been used in honor of this saint, following the common pattern in French Christian culture of creating diminutive or feminine variants of male saints' names for women. Cultural Context Though rare today in English-speaking regions due to the prominence of the Gillette brand, the name persists in France and other French-speaking areas as a traditional given name. The suffix '-ette' commonly denotes a feminine or diminutive form, similar to names like Annette or Bernadette. This indicates that Gillette was historically used to mean "little Gilles" or "female Gilles," often for girls born during periods when religious naming conventions were strong. Meaning: Feminine form of Gilles; ultimately "young goat" (from Greek aigidion) Origin: French Type: Given name (French feminine) Usage Regions: France, French-speaking areas