Medard is of Germanic origin, derived from the Old High German 'Materad', which means 'famous in battle'. It is a less common given name today, but it was once quite popular during medieval times. In France, Medard is celebrated as a saint and the patron saint of gardeners, due to Saint Medardus, who was said to have died on June 8th, around the time flowers bloom most profusely. The name Medard has also been associated with various historical figures, including Medard of Noyon, a sixth-century bishop known for his compassion towards the poor and sick. In literature, it appears in works like 'The Hunchback of Notre-Dame' by Victor Hugo, where one of the characters is named Clopin Trouillefou, also known as King of the Beggars or Medard the Executioner.
The name Medard appears to have been moderately popular during the early 20th century, with a total of 69 recorded births between 1916 and 1928. The years with the highest number of births were 1918 and 1922, each with 8 births. However, there was a noticeable decline in popularity after 1925, with only one birth year (1927) recorded between then and the end of the period.