Bernhardt is a masculine given name of German origin. It is composed of two elements: "bern", which means "bear", and "hard", which means "strong, brave". Therefore, the name Bernhardt means "brave as a bear".
The name Bernhardt has its roots in medieval Germany, where it was used as a personal name from an early date. It is believed to have been introduced by German settlers who brought their names with them when they migrated to other parts of Europe and beyond.
One of the most famous individuals with the name Bernhardt is Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923), a French stage and screen actress often considered the most famous actress of the 19th century. While she was born Marie Henriette Anne Bernard, she adopted the stage name Bernhardt after her father's family name.
Throughout history, several other notable individuals have borne the name Bernhardt, including Bernhard von Clairvaux (c. 1090-1153), a French Cistercian abbot and founder of the Clairvaux Abbey, and Bernhard von Besenval (1726-1804), a Swiss general who served in the army of King Louis XVI of France.
In modern times, the name Bernhardt continues to be used as a given name for boys. It is not particularly common, but it can be found in various countries around the world. Some variations of the name include Bernhard, Bernard, Bernd, and Bernie. Despite its origins, Bernhardt has not traditionally been associated with any particular regional or cultural tradition, making it a versatile choice for parents looking for a distinctive and meaningful name for their son.
The name Bernhardt has seen a varied history of popularity over the years in the United States. Between 1908 and 1929, there was a consistent trend of babies being named Bernhardt, with a peak of 19 births in 1915 and another peak of 18 births in 1920.
However, after 1930, the popularity of the name started to decline steadily. There were only 6 births each year from 1932 to 1934, with a slight increase to 7 births in 1935 and 8 births in 1936. The trend continued with 8 births in 1937, 9 births in 1938, and 6 births each year from 1939 to 1942.
The number of Bernhardt births remained low for several years, with only 5 births per year from 1940 to 1943. There was a brief increase to 7 births in 1944 and 6 births in 1946, but the name's popularity continued to decline overall.
From 1947 onwards, there were only occasional years with more than 5 Bernhardt births, such as 8 births in 1962. The most recent year listed is 1964, with a total of 5 births named Bernhardt.
In conclusion, while the name Bernhardt once saw some popularity in the early to mid-20th century in the United States, its popularity has since declined significantly. Overall, there have been a total of 423 babies named Bernhardt in the United States over the years.