Ber

Ber is also commonly used in the Dutch-speaking world, where it is primarily a short form of names that contain the Germanic element 'bern' meaning "bear" (usually Bernard). In other words: the same etymological source as the Yiddish word 'ber' meaning "bear".

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In addition to the above, there are also numerous cases where the name is a short form of names that contain the Germanic element 'beraht' meaning "bright", such as Albertus and Hubertus.

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With that said, the name is primarily used informally, i.e. it is extremely rare as an official name on birth certificates.

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Lastly, the Dutch pronunciation of Ber is: /'bɛr/

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Sources:
• https://nvb.meertens.knaw.nl/populariteit/naam/Ber (in Dutch; shows the prevalence of the name in the Netherlands in 2017)
• (general): https://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/?first=Ber&last=&search=Zoeken
• https://www.facebook.com/search/people?q=ber
• Adelbert "Ber" Lukkassen (1948-2005): https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ber_Lukkassen (in Dutch)
• Berend "Ber" Hulsing (1907-1980): https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ber_Hulsing (in Dutch)
• Bernardus "Ber" Groosjohan (1897-1971): https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ber_Groosjohan (in Dutch; also see the English version)
• Embertus "Ber" Joosen (1924-2004): https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ber_Joosen (in Dutch)
• Hubertus "Ber" Wijnands (1922-2002): https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ber_Wijnands (in Dutch)
• obituary of Albertus "Ber" Hilgeman (1937-2018): https://mensenlinq.nl/overlijdensberichten/albertus-christiaan-%28ber%29-hilgeman-617185 (in Dutch)
• obituary of Bernard "Ber" Lippens (1944-2013): https://mensenlinq.nl/overlijdensberichten/bernard-cornelis-%28ber%29-lippens-466869 (in Dutch)

Ber is often used as a vernacular name for Dov. [noted -ed]