Bernard

Meaning of Bernard

This name means 'brave as a bear' or 'strong bear'. It suggests someone with the courage and strength of a bear.

Bernard has Germanic roots — browse every Germanic baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Bernard

After ranking as high as #656 in 2000, Bernard has fallen out of the US top 1,000 as of 2025.

Notable people named Bernard

• Bernard Arnault
  French billionaire, LVMH chairman
• Bernie Sanders
  US Senator, presidential candidate
• Bernard Hill
  British actor, 'Lord of Rings'
• Bernard King
  NBA Hall of Fame player
• Bernard Butler
  English musician, Suede guitarist

More Germanic names

Questions about the name Bernard

What does the name Bernard mean?

Bernard means this name means 'brave as a bear' or 'strong bear'. it suggests someone with the courage and strength of a bear, and it comes from Germanic origins.

Is Bernard a boy's or a girl's name?

Bernard is most commonly used as a boy's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Bernard?

Bernard did not appear in the top 1,000 baby names in 2025, which makes it a genuinely uncommon pick.

When was Bernard most popular?

Bernard peaked at #656 in 2000.