Bernard is a Germanic name from bern, bear, and hard, brave or hardy, and means "brave as a bear" or "strong bear". Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, the great 12th-century abbot, made it a favorite across Europe, and the Alpine rescue dogs carry it today. Bernard was a common American name in the first half of the 20th century; it ranked number 656 in 2000, soon left the top 1000 and stands at number 1362 in 2025.