Bernhardt is of German origin, meaning 'strong as a bear'. It was popularized in the late 19th and early 20th centuries through figures like Bernhardt, the stage name of French actress Sarah Bernardt. The name has a robust and powerful ring to it, reflecting its derivation from the Germanic word 'ber Hart' or 'bear strong".
The name Bernhardt experienced a surge in popularity around World War I, with the highest number of births occurring annually between 1917 and 1920, peaking at 18 births in 1920. However, this trend declined sharply thereafter, with only six or fewer births per year from 1932 onwards. The total number of births over this period was 423.