Holding steady.
Popularity of Bernhardt since 1908
Babies named Bernhardt per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 133 |
| 1920s | 139 |
| 1930s | 77 |
| 1940s | 38 |
| 1950s | 12 |
| 1960s | 19 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Bernhardt is a sturdy German name that saw its greatest use in the early 20th century. Peak popularity occurred in 1911, when it ranked 673rd among newborn boys, reflecting a wider cultural embrace of German heritage at the time. Since then, its usage has steadily declined; in 2025, fewer than five boys received the name, placing it outside the top 1000 entirely. The name is most commonly found in states with strong German American populations, such as Wisconsin and Minnesota. While rarely chosen today, Bernhardt retains a solid, traditional image through its nickname Bernie.
Bernhardt is a German name derived from the Old High German elements 'bero' (bear) and 'hart' (hardy, strong). It is the German cognate of the English Bernard, and has been used in German-speaking regions since the Middle Ages. The name gained popularity in the United States in the early 20th century among German immigrant families.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Bernie, Bern
Sibling names for Bernhardt
Names that share Bernhardt's style, for a brother or sister.
