The masculine given name Bernard is of Germanic origin.
The meaning of the name is from a Germanic compound Bern-hard meaning "bear-hardy", or "brave as a bear". Bern- is the old form of bear from West Germanic *beran-.
St. Bernard of Menthon is the patron saint of mountaineers after whom the St. Bernard dog used in mountain rescue work is named. The feminine given name from the same cognate is Bernadine or Bernadette. Nicknames include Barney (masculine), Bernie (unisex), and Bern (masculine). Bernard is also a common surname.
Famous quotes containing the word bernard:
“Self-sacrifice enables us to sacrifice other people without blushing.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)
“There is nothing more dangerous than the conscience of a bigot.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)
“In literature the ambition of the novice is to acquire the literary language: the struggle of the adept is to get rid of it.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)