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Bernarda
How to Pronounce Bernarda
Pronounced ber-NAR-duh /bɛrˈnɑr.də/Medium
Meaning: Bernarda is a feminine form of Bernard, built from the Germanic bern ('bear') and hard ('brave, hardy, strong'), so 'brave as a bear.' It is used in Spanish, Italian, and Croatian, carried by several saints of the name.Medium
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Bernarda is the feminine of Bernard, a Germanic name meaning 'brave as a bear' from the elements for 'bear' and 'strong.' It travelled into Spanish, Italian, and Slavic use, backed by saints and by Lorca's memorable dramatic heroine. In America it appeared mostly among Hispanic and southern-European families.
Bernarda was always uncommon in the United States, given to only about twenty girls a year at its peak around 1927, and it faded through the later century. A woman named Bernarda then is in her nineties today.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Bernarda mean?
It is a feminine of Bernard, from Germanic bern ('bear') and hard ('brave, strong').
How do you pronounce Bernarda?
It is said ber-NAR-duh /bɛrˈnɑr.də/, three syllables with the stress on the second.
Is Bernarda a boy or girl name?
Bernarda is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Bernarda?
It has always been rare in the United States, given to only about twenty girls a year at its peak in the late nineteen-twenties.