Fun Facts About the Name Bernard
- A favorite of earlier generations: Bernard appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 4 separate runs, totaling 65 years. Its last run lasted 1 consecutive years, from 1947 through 1947.
- More than 201 thousand babies named Bernard: U.S. records list 201,068 babies given the name Bernard from 1880 through 2025. Even 983 girls received the name Bernard - about 1 girl for every 204 boys.
What Does the Name Bernard Mean?
Bernard is a Germanic name meaning "brave as a bear." It comes from the Old High German Bernhard, formed from bern or bero, "bear," and harti, "hard, strong, brave." The literal sense of the elements is often given as "bear-hard" or "hardy bear"; "brave as a bear" is the customary interpretation. The first element is the Germanic bear word, and the second is related to English hard.
Bernard Name History & Origins
The name developed from the continental Germanic Bernhard, a compound of the bear element and the hard or bold element. It appears in medieval Latin as Bernardus, in Old French as Bernard, and in Middle English as Bernard. The Normans brought the French form to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066, and it remained in use there through the Middle Ages.
Early historical bearers include Bernard, king of Italy (died 818), a grandson of Charlemagne, and Saint Bernard of Menthon (c. 1020 - 1081), traditionally credited with founding the Alpine hospice at the Great St Bernard Pass; that hospice later gave its name to the St. Bernard dog breed. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090 - 1153), the Cistercian abbot and Doctor of the Church, is another well-known medieval bearer.
In continental Europe the name took regional forms: German Bernhard, Dutch Bernard and Bernhard, Italian and Spanish Bernardo, and French Bernard. The feminine names Bernadette and Bernardine derive from the same root. In English, Bernard has been used since the Middle Ages and appears in later bearers such as the playwright George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950).
How Popular is the Name Bernard?
Bernard has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 65 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 1947 to 1947.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | #9,659 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #12,005 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1987 | #9,965 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #8,618 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1985 | #8,427 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1984 | #7,470 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1983 | #6,760 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1982 | #9,338 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #7,465 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1979 | #10,357 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1978 | #5,994 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1977 | #7,624 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1976 | #6,678 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1975 | #5,556 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1974 | #7,782 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #6,139 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1972 | #4,545 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1971 | #7,461 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1970 | #4,779 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1969 | #4,452 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1968 | #4,237 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1967 | #5,019 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1966 | #2,851 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1965 | #5,863 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1964 | #4,115 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1963 | #2,964 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1962 | #3,798 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1961 | #3,201 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1960 | #3,936 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1959 | #3,112 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1958 | #4,547 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1957 | #2,826 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1956 | #3,058 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1955 | #5,265 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1954 | #4,304 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1953 | #3,712 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1952 | #4,521 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1951 | #4,415 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #3,068 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1949 | #4,717 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1947 | #3,074 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1946 | #5,014 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1945 | #2,157 | 16 | 0.0012% |
| 1944 | #3,157 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1943 | #2,716 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1942 | #2,679 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1941 | #4,000 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1940 | #3,534 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1939 | #2,608 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1938 | #2,751 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1937 | #2,965 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1936 | #2,881 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1935 | #2,947 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1934 | #2,581 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1933 | #1,786 | 19 | 0.0019% |
| 1932 | #2,247 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1931 | #1,555 | 24 | 0.0023% |
| 1930 | #1,618 | 24 | 0.0021% |
| 1929 | #1,285 | 34 | 0.0030% |
| 1928 | #1,398 | 31 | 0.0027% |
| 1927 | #1,388 | 34 | 0.0029% |
| 1926 | #1,777 | 23 | 0.0019% |
| 1925 | #1,753 | 24 | 0.0020% |
| 1924 | #2,066 | 19 | 0.0015% |
| 1923 | #1,950 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1922 | #1,689 | 25 | 0.0021% |
| 1921 | #2,387 | 15 | 0.0012% |
| 1920 | #1,554 | 28 | 0.0023% |
| 1919 | #3,030 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1918 | #1,971 | 19 | 0.0016% |
| 1917 | #2,110 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1916 | #2,147 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1915 | #1,685 | 20 | 0.0020% |
| 1914 | #1,547 | 18 | 0.0024% |
| 1913 | #2,360 | 8 | 0.0013% |
| 1911 | #1,673 | 9 | 0.0022% |
| 1910 | #2,450 | 5 | 0.0013% |
| 1901 | #1,708 | 5 | 0.0021% |
| 1897 | #1,574 | 5 | 0.0021% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,362 | 137 | 0.0080% |
| 2024 | #1,318 | 147 | 0.0086% |
| 2023 | #1,472 | 122 | 0.0071% |
| 2022 | #1,295 | 147 | 0.0084% |
| 2021 | #1,307 | 143 | 0.0082% |
| 2020 | #1,254 | 147 | 0.0085% |
| 2019 | #1,251 | 150 | 0.0084% |
| 2018 | #1,151 | 167 | 0.0092% |
| 2017 | #1,170 | 160 | 0.0086% |
| 2016 | #1,169 | 163 | 0.0086% |
| 2015 | #1,216 | 151 | 0.0079% |
| 2014 | #1,178 | 158 | 0.0082% |
| 2013 | #1,105 | 167 | 0.0088% |
| 2012 | #1,195 | 150 | 0.0079% |
| 2011 | #1,102 | 168 | 0.0088% |
| 2010 | #1,108 | 172 | 0.0090% |
| 2009 | #1,027 | 189 | 0.0095% |
| 2008 | #944 | 214 | 0.0105% |
| 2007 | #934 | 212 | 0.0102% |
| 2006 | #958 | 194 | 0.0094% |
| 2005 | #832 | 223 | 0.0112% |
| 2004 | #765 | 238 | 0.0120% |
| 2003 | #791 | 220 | 0.0111% |
| 2002 | #762 | 226 | 0.0116% |
| 2001 | #689 | 261 | 0.0134% |
| 2000 | #656 | 275 | 0.0140% |
| 1999 | #650 | 266 | 0.0139% |
| 1998 | #616 | 297 | 0.0155% |
| 1997 | #579 | 319 | 0.0169% |
| 1996 | #565 | 323 | 0.0171% |
| 1995 | #496 | 431 | 0.0226% |
| 1994 | #495 | 413 | 0.0214% |
| 1993 | #434 | 507 | 0.0259% |
| 1992 | #421 | 530 | 0.0265% |
| 1991 | #408 | 558 | 0.0276% |
| 1990 | #430 | 516 | 0.0251% |
| 1989 | #349 | 659 | 0.0329% |
| 1988 | #345 | 609 | 0.0318% |
| 1987 | #340 | 593 | 0.0318% |
| 1986 | #333 | 595 | 0.0323% |
| 1985 | #312 | 653 | 0.0353% |
| 1984 | #317 | 615 | 0.0341% |
| 1983 | #308 | 640 | 0.0357% |
| 1982 | #297 | 677 | 0.0373% |
| 1981 | #289 | 697 | 0.0389% |
| 1980 | #274 | 769 | 0.0431% |
| 1979 | #272 | 760 | 0.0441% |
| 1978 | #267 | 738 | 0.0449% |
| 1977 | #261 | 758 | 0.0461% |
| 1976 | #249 | 793 | 0.0505% |
| 1975 | #242 | 847 | 0.0542% |
| 1974 | #238 | 858 | 0.0546% |
| 1973 | #226 | 945 | 0.0606% |
| 1972 | #213 | 1,047 | 0.0646% |
| 1971 | #205 | 1,168 | 0.0660% |
| 1970 | #210 | 1,186 | 0.0638% |
| 1969 | #199 | 1,284 | 0.0718% |
| 1968 | #189 | 1,307 | 0.0752% |
| 1967 | #179 | 1,441 | 0.0826% |
| 1966 | #177 | 1,521 | 0.0853% |
| 1965 | #170 | 1,675 | 0.0900% |
| 1964 | #165 | 1,878 | 0.0942% |
| 1963 | #165 | 1,944 | 0.0957% |
| 1962 | #161 | 1,971 | 0.0953% |
| 1961 | #156 | 2,150 | 0.1012% |
| 1960 | #152 | 2,302 | 0.1080% |
| 1959 | #152 | 2,275 | 0.1066% |
| 1958 | #143 | 2,406 | 0.1134% |
| 1957 | #137 | 2,533 | 0.1174% |
| 1956 | #130 | 2,483 | 0.1174% |
| 1955 | #127 | 2,560 | 0.1243% |
| 1954 | #123 | 2,729 | 0.1339% |
| 1953 | #119 | 2,746 | 0.1392% |
| 1952 | #111 | 2,750 | 0.1415% |
| 1951 | #107 | 2,770 | 0.1471% |
| 1950 | #110 | 2,637 | 0.1473% |
| 1949 | #111 | 2,679 | 0.1510% |
| 1948 | #107 | 2,715 | 0.1547% |
| 1947 | #100 | 2,994 | 0.1636% |
| 1946 | #102 | 2,605 | 0.1604% |
| 1945 | #98 | 2,389 | 0.1775% |
| 1944 | #94 | 2,619 | 0.1922% |
| 1943 | #92 | 2,744 | 0.1923% |
| 1942 | #90 | 2,724 | 0.1972% |
| 1941 | #87 | 2,509 | 0.2043% |
| 1940 | #82 | 2,468 | 0.2129% |
| 1939 | #76 | 2,624 | 0.2371% |
| 1938 | #75 | 2,715 | 0.2448% |
| 1937 | #73 | 2,671 | 0.2504% |
| 1936 | #68 | 2,854 | 0.2752% |
| 1935 | #67 | 2,933 | 0.2817% |
| 1934 | #65 | 3,146 | 0.3047% |
| 1933 | #63 | 3,005 | 0.3031% |
| 1932 | #60 | 3,252 | 0.3114% |
| 1931 | #54 | 3,514 | 0.3380% |
| 1930 | #52 | 3,830 | 0.3490% |
| 1929 | #52 | 3,809 | 0.3541% |
| 1928 | #49 | 4,067 | 0.3672% |
| 1927 | #50 | 4,165 | 0.3696% |
| 1926 | #49 | 4,172 | 0.3757% |
| 1925 | #48 | 4,259 | 0.3817% |
| 1924 | #46 | 4,505 | 0.3977% |
| 1923 | #46 | 4,376 | 0.3992% |
| 1922 | #46 | 4,409 | 0.4052% |
| 1921 | #45 | 4,485 | 0.4072% |
| 1920 | #46 | 4,163 | 0.3911% |
| 1919 | #45 | 3,915 | 0.3994% |
| 1918 | #47 | 4,098 | 0.4043% |
| 1917 | #49 | 3,711 | 0.4010% |
| 1916 | #49 | 3,476 | 0.3905% |
| 1915 | #48 | 3,302 | 0.3891% |
| 1914 | #50 | 2,436 | 0.3720% |
| 1913 | #52 | 1,916 | 0.3738% |
| 1912 | #60 | 1,437 | 0.3342% |
| 1911 | #54 | 777 | 0.3439% |
| 1910 | #62 | 560 | 0.2884% |
| 1909 | #68 | 463 | 0.2823% |
| 1908 | #70 | 414 | 0.2682% |
| 1907 | #73 | 378 | 0.2574% |
| 1906 | #74 | 343 | 0.2576% |
| 1905 | #82 | 292 | 0.2207% |
| 1904 | #72 | 326 | 0.2544% |
| 1903 | #79 | 271 | 0.2273% |
| 1902 | #83 | 259 | 0.2112% |
| 1901 | #80 | 242 | 0.2273% |
| 1900 | #86 | 308 | 0.2047% |
| 1899 | #85 | 222 | 0.2090% |
| 1898 | #73 | 284 | 0.2315% |
| 1897 | #78 | 234 | 0.2075% |
| 1896 | #82 | 241 | 0.2016% |
| 1895 | #77 | 259 | 0.2206% |
| 1894 | #78 | 256 | 0.2211% |
| 1893 | #84 | 217 | 0.1932% |
| 1892 | #85 | 237 | 0.1942% |
| 1891 | #85 | 187 | 0.1848% |
| 1890 | #98 | 178 | 0.1603% |
| 1889 | #81 | 215 | 0.1944% |
| 1888 | #87 | 207 | 0.1713% |
| 1887 | #97 | 159 | 0.1568% |
| 1886 | #91 | 180 | 0.1625% |
| 1885 | #91 | 160 | 0.1484% |
| 1884 | #108 | 140 | 0.1223% |
| 1883 | #96 | 141 | 0.1348% |
| 1882 | #103 | 144 | 0.1267% |
| 1881 | #96 | 130 | 0.1291% |
| 1880 | #97 | 140 | 0.1267% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
