Bernard

German

"strong, brave as a bear"

Bernard Origin and Meaning

The name Bernard is a boy's name of German origin meaning "strong, brave as a bear".

Bernard is obviously a saint's name, but how did it get to the big, benevolent dog? The eleventh century monk, patron saint of mountain climbers, who lived in the Alps, was famed for setting up safe houses for pilgrims on their way to Rome over the treacherous St. Bernard Pass, and the canine breed, also used to rescue people in treacherous conditions, was named for him.

Over the years, though, the name has taken on a highly intellectual image, losing most of that old Alpine energy. There were lots of little Bernies in the early decades of the twentieth century; Bernard reached as high as Number 45 in 1921.

And the name does have some cultural cred, via playwright (George) Bernard Shaw, seminal art historian Bernard Berenson, and novelist Bernard Malamud. And let's not forget that 2016 and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders's first name is Bernard as well.

Bernard Rank in US Top 1000

# 940 in the US

Bernard Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 578 on Nameberry

Popularity of the name Bernard

• 578 Nameberry 2025
• 318 Unique 2024
• 827 England 2023
• 146 Poland 2020

20 Names Similar to Bernard

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Bernard.

• Harold
• Gilbert
• Clarence
• Leonard
• Herbert
• Ralph
• Arnold
• Edgar
• Eugene
• Howard
• Friedrich
• Reginald
• Seymour
• Albert
• Alfred
• Archibald
• Clifford
• Humphrey
• Roger
• Francis

Famous People Named Bernard

• Saint Bernard of Clairvaux French abbot
• Bernard Herrmann American film composer
• Bernard Germain,Étienne de La Ville,sur,Illon de Lacépède, French naturalist
• (George) Bernard Shaw Irish playwright
• Bernard Charles "Bernie" Ecclestone British business magnate
• Bernard "Bernie" Sanders U.S. Senator from Vermont
• Bernard Cribbins English actor
• Bernard Fox Welsh actor
• Bernard Freeman aka Bun B American rapper
• Bernard Montgomery 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, British field marshal
• Bernard Freyberg 7th Governor,General of New Zealand
• Bernard Tomic Australian tennis player
• Bernard Cornwell English novelist
• Bernard Pyne Grenfell English Egyptologist
• Bernard Hill American actor
• Bernard Pierce American football player
• Bernard Pollard American football player
• Bernard Scott American football player
• Bernard Madoff American Ponzi schemer
• Bernard Hampton entrepreneur
• Bernard Ashley founder of Laura Ashley design
• Bernard Moon O’Sullivan (b. 2018) son of actress Bridget Regan
• Bernard 'Barney' Sumner English musician (New Order)
• Bernard 'Berni' Flint English singer
• Bernard 'Bernie' Calvert English bass player (The Hollies)

The name Bernard in Pop Culture

• Bernard a mouse in Disney's "The Rescuers"
• Bernard main character in the children's TV series "Bernard's Watch"
• Bernard the head elf in "The Santa Clause" movies
• Bernard Black character from British TV series "Black Books"
• Bernard Bligh character in "Small Island"
• Bernard "Barney" Fife character on "The Andy Griffith Show"
• Bernard "Beans" Aranguren character on TV series "Even Stevens"
• Bernard main character in short story "Last Shot" by Justine Avery
• Bernard "Bernie" Schotz character on TV's "Bizaardvark"
• Saint Bernard breed of large dog
• Abbot Bernard a character in Brian Jacques' "Mariel of Redwall"

International Variations of the name Bernard

• Bernhart German
• Bernardino Spanish
• Bernal Spanish
• Bernardel Spanish
• Bernhardt German
• Berno Czech
• Bernek Czech
• Bernhard German
• Bernardyn Polish
• Bernat Catalan
• Nardo Spanish
• Bearnard Gaelic
• Bernot French
• Benek Polish
• Berend German
• Bernadino Italian
• Bernt Scandinavian
• Vernados Greek
• Bernardo Spanish
• Beñat Basque
• Beno German
• Berngards Russian
• Bernardito Spanish
• Bernardin French
• Bernon French