Bernardo

Origin and meaning of Bernardo

Bernardo is a name of Germanic origin, from the elements bern, 'bear,' and hard, 'strong, bold': it thus means 'strong and brave as a bear.' Widespread in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Latin America, it has parallel forms such as Bernard in English and French and Bernhard in German. It was borne by saints and artists, among them Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. With its solid, manly sound, it evokes strength, loyalty and courage — a classic, authoritative name of both ancient and timeless appeal.

Variants around the world

How Bernardo sounds in other languages.

Famous people

• San Bernardo di Chiaravalle— saint
• Bernardo Bertolucci— film director