Bernhard
/ˈbɛʁn.haʁt/noun
A German and Scandinavian masculine given name meaning 'strong as a bear.'
Did you know?The name comes from a Germanic warrior formula: the bear was a sacred symbol of ferocity and protection, so this name literally stamped animal-strength onto a person’s identity.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*berô
“bear”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*harduz
“hard, strong, brave”
Early Germanic
Germanic
*Berinhardaz
“bear-strong, bear-brave”
Old High German
OHG
Bernhard
“bear-hard; strong as a bear”
Medieval Latin
Latin
Bernhardus
“Latinized personal name”
Modern German
German
Bernhard
“masculine given name”