Male Name
Bernard
bəɹ.ˈnɑɹd
ˈbɜː.nəd
bɛʁ.naʁ
ˈbɛr.nɑrt
ˈbɛr.nart
Overview
Gender
masculine
Origin
Categories
animals
architects
Atelier characters
Baldur's Gate characters
Barry Lyndon
bears
Big Little Lies characters
Bob the Builder characters
boxers
brave
Characteristics
How people perceive this name
Overall Rating
70/100
classic160%
mature160%
formal120%
upper class100%
wholesome100%
strong140%
refined80%
strange65%
serious100%
Meaning & Etymology
The name Bernard is derived from the Old German elements 'bern' meaning 'bear' and 'hart' meaning 'hard, firm, brave, hardy'. It was brought to England by the Normans, replacing the Old English cognate Beornheard. The name has been borne by several saints, including Saint Bernard of Menthon, who built hospices in the Swiss Alps in the 10th century, and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, a 12th-century theologian and Doctor of the Church. The name has also been popularized by notable figures such as the...
Etymology
Original Form:
Bernhard
Evolution:
The name evolved from the Old German Bernhard to the French Bernard, which was introduced to England after the Norman Conquest, replacing the Old English Beornheard.
Source:
West Germanic origin