Given name & surname
Bernhardt
“as strong and brave as a bear”
In German use, Bernhardt is a variant of Bernard. One German interpretation is “as strong and brave as a bear.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In German use, Bernhardt is a variant of Bernard. One German interpretation is “as strong and brave as a bear.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In German use, Bernhardt is a variant of Bernard. An origin associated with Bernard is Germanic.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1908. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Bernhardt through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 423
- 423 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1915
- 19 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 5 in 1964. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 185 as a first name in 2020; 6,862 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Bernhardt’s family of names
In East Central German usage, Bernhardt has a diminutive in Bernie. In German usage, Bernhardt has a related form in Bernard. In German usage, Bernhardt has a related form in Bernard.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Bernhardt has relatives in 3 languages.
8 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Bernhardt
- Bernhardt Møller SørensenDanish rower1908–1958
- Bernhardt HoltermannAustralian politician (1838-1885)
- Bernhardt EdskesDutch organ builder (1940-2022)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Bernhardt, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Benoit
“one who is blessed”
>99% boys
Benedetto
“one who is blessed”
>99% boys
Benjiman
“son of the right hand” · “son of the south”
>99% boys
Einer
“a leading warrior”
>99% boys
Einar
“a leading warrior”
>99% boys
Gerrit
“one who is mighty with a spear”
>99% boys
Berl
>99% boys
Evert
“as strong as a boar; as brave as a boar” · “resembling a wild boar”
>99% boys