The nameBernard
Bernard is a Germanic name meaning "brave as a bear". It was a top 50 American name around 1919.
- Boy's name
- Germanic
- Feast day
Meaning
Bernard comes from the Germanic bern, "bear", and hard, "brave, strong".
Origin
Germanic.
History
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux was a leading monk of the 12th century, and the dogs of the Great St Bernard Pass take their name from another saint. In the United States Bernard reached 45th place in 1919.
Did you know?
- George Bernard Shaw is one of only two people to have won both a Nobel Prize and an Oscar, the other being Bob Dylan.
- The French cyclist Bernard Hinault won the Tour de France five times.
Famous people named Bernard
- Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
- George Bernard Shaw, playwright
- Bernard Hinault, cyclist
Popularity of the name Bernard
Bernard in the United States
Bernard was most popular in the United States in the 1920s, with 42,663 births over the decade, 21% of all recorded babies named Bernard. Its rise began around 1909, and it peaked in 1924. Half of all babies named Bernard in the United States were born before 1937, so it is mostly a great-grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 141 births a year.
Bernard in the United Kingdom
Bernard was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 300 births over the decade, 33% of all recorded babies named Bernard. Half of all babies named Bernard in the United Kingdom were born before 2014, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been rising: 48 births a year on average, against 34 in the five years before.
Bernard in Ireland
Bernard in France
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Bernard
Names from the same generation as Bernard, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Bernard? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Bernard with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Bernard side by side with the name of your choice.
Bernard in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Bernard mean?
Bernard comes from the Germanic bern, "bear", and hard, "brave, strong".
What is the origin of the name Bernard?
Germanic.
Is Bernard a girl's or a boy's name?
Bernard is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Bernard?
In 2024, Bernard was the 1319th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 147 births.
What are the variants of the name Bernard?
Variants and related names of Bernard include Bernadette, Bernardin, Bernardine and Marie-Bernadette.
What are good sibling names for Bernard?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Charlene, Linda, Anita and Nadine for a sister, Ernest, Fredrick, Guy and Gilbert for a brother.
Who are famous people named Bernard?
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux; George Bernard Shaw, playwright; Bernard Hinault, cyclist.