Bernard

I think Bernard would make a really solid and interesting middle name (I also don’t mind it as a first, but then, I love any old fashioned name), especially for a more timeless first name, something like James Bernard or Vincent Bernard. Bernie would be really cute if only I could disassociate it with Sanders :( Ben is also a possible nickname, especially for when he’s older.

Nowadays Bernard is one of the most beautiful names in Brazil. Here we say “Bernardo” and there are people of all ages called like this.

I'm named Bernard (b. 1989). We are American, but my family uses the English annunciation "BER-nurhd," however I'm universally called "Bernie" by all. When I was in-trouble at home or school, I would hear a cutting "Bernard Joseph!" Now that I'm in my 30s, only my mother uses this salutation (lol). When I was growing up, I had the most embarrassing speech impediment, I had a lazy sound on the "R-consonant" in speaking. That "R" sound seemed to dominate my first name and I remember crying as a kid that I wanted a different name. This caused a period of speech therapy during elementary school and overall it caused me to be very, very reserved and shy as a child. Adults would have to ask me to repeat myself ad nauseum only for them to think I was introducing myself as "Barney" (like the purple dinosaur kids show in the US). I am not so shy now, but generally as an introvert I still feel the residual effects from childhood today.

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I am glad my parents rejected my many proposals on a name-change all those years ago. I am technically Bernard III on my father's side. My grandfather, Bernard Sr., was a construction worker and Viet-Nam vet (1946-2018), my father Bernard Jr., (b. 1968) is a retired state police officer. I decided to become a music teacher and artist - I'm probably more foolish than them as I do not have the same level of industriousness. But maybe my artwork will pay for it a few times over after I'm good & dead :) :P

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The content of this comment have been verified by an actual, living, American man named Bernard, aged 32 at the time of posting. Not quite 63 yet - how many Bernard's will there be in the States during the 2050s?! Haha.

Bernard and Bianca from the Rescuers book series by Margery Sharp. I loved the movie, Rescuers Down Under, as a kid and discovered the books as an adult -- way better.

I like it. I picture a mature French artist with this name.

I love this name, I feel like a person with this name would be kind and sweet :)

I love this name! Sounds strong and masculine imo.

I really don't like it. It is painfully old fashioned and I would definitely do a double take if I saw a young child called Bernard.

Don't like it. This name is usually given to characters that are portrayed as nerds.

Bernard sounds snobby and dated to me. It also makes me think of the dog breed.

Bernard was my grandfather’s name, born in Yorkshire in 1944.

Too dated and I always think of a Saint Bernard.

This name reminds me of suntan, like burn red.

This is my uncle's name. I personally don't like it because it's hideously old fashioned, but it's an okay name for him, because he's Dutch.

I agree. It does sounds dorkish. I have never liked it. In England it is a generational name, maybe popular in the 1920's and 1930's (I was named after a naval officer killed in WW2). However, I met an American who pronounced it differently and, like the German and French pronunciations, it sounded much better. Recently I have been using Bern ("burn").

I feel like Bernard is a dorky sounding name.

I love this name and it really speaks for itself. I can bear witness with the meaning of this name and as I look forward to celebrating my name on 20th August, I ask you all to be with me and pray for me to live to the proper meaning of my name as Saint Bernard did.

I like this name, especially the French pronunciation. It has a strong meaning and feel to it.

Generally I don't like names like this. I prefer more musical names, but I find Bernard strangely appealing. It sounds like someone's loving and happy grandfather, or maybe father. I somehow have the image of an old-fashioned baker when I hear it: the jolly, round, Santa Claus-type of a man who sneaks extra cookies into bags for kids. A very comfortable name.

The name reminds me of an old man. Nicknames could be Barnie, Bern, Nard, Bernie, Barny and Bear.

I like the British pronunciation BURN-ERD.

I can't say I like the name much. I hate the nickname Bernie, and Bernard sounds too official and snobby, and also old-fashioned. It's the schwa sound that I dislike, I guess.

I love the name Bernard, the guy I have a huge crush on in the year above me is called Bernard, and he is a great guitar player, watch out for him when he's famous lol.

When I was growing up my parents had a friend from France named Bernard. My sister liked him and named a bear she got after him. Recently I've re-discovered this name and am madly in love with it.

I definitely like the English pronunciation better than the American one.