Holding steady.
Popularity of Bernarda since 1908
Babies named Bernarda per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1927, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Bernarda's real moment was 1911.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 6 |
| 1910s | 64 |
| 1920s | 102 |
| 1930s | 55 |
| 1940s | 31 |
| 1950s | 32 |
| 1960s | 24 |
| 1970s | 10 |
| 1980s | 16 |
| 1990s | 20 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Bernarda is a sturdy, old-world feminine name with Germanic roots, meaning 'strong as a bear.' It has been present in the United States since at least 1908, but it has always been exceedingly rare. Its peak year was 1911, during the early 1910s, when it saw its highest usage in the U.S. Since then, its trajectory has been stable but at very low numbers, never ranking in the top 1000. Bernarda did not place in any top states, reflecting its scattered, low-frequency use. It remains a distinctive choice for parents drawn to classic feminine forms of strong masculine names.
Bernarda is the feminine form of Bernard, derived from the Germanic elements 'ber' meaning 'bear' and 'hard' meaning 'brave' or 'hardy'. The name Bernard was brought to England by the Normans and became common in medieval Europe. Bernarda, while less common, has been used in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries as a feminine equivalent.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Berni, Bernie, Narda
Sibling names for Bernarda
Names that share Bernarda's style, for a brother or sister.
