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Home › Baby Names Directory › Burnard

Burnard

♂ Boy

Pronounced ber-NARD /bərˈnɑːrd/Medium

Meaning: Burnard is a spelling variant of Bernard, from the Germanic elements bern, 'bear,' and hard, 'brave' or 'strong,' giving the meaning 'brave as a bear' or 'strong bear.'Low

In 30 seconds: Burnard is a variant of Bernard, from Germanic roots meaning 'brave as a bear.' It was always rare and peaked in the nineteen-twenties (said ber-NARD).
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Origin LowGermanic, English
MeaningBurnard is a spelling variant of Bernard, from the Germanic elements bern, 'bear,' and hard, 'brave' or 'strong,' giving the meaning 'brave as a bear' or 'strong bear.'
U.S. rank (1960)#3709 ↗ Rising
1960 U.S. births6 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1925
Total births (all-time)≈ 331

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192519121960

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

Burnard reworks Bernard, whose Germanic parts bern and hard combine to mean 'brave as a bear.' The name carries the strength of its bear imagery and a long medieval pedigree, here in a slightly rustic variant spelling.

As a first name Burnard stayed scarce, clustered early in the twentieth century with a modest high around 1925. A Burnard from that time belongs to a great-grandfather's generation now.

Did you know? Bernard was spread across Europe by medieval saints and monks, and homespun spellings like Burnard show how families reshaped the venerable name to their own ear.
Overall data confidence 35%
References - Burnard — Variant of Bernard (Germanic 'brave as a bear')

Variations

BernardBarnardBernhard

Nicknames

BernieBarneyBurn

Famous Bearers

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If you like Burnard…

Bernard— the standard name Burnard varies
Barnard— a like variant of the same name
Bernie— a common short form of Bernard
Leonard— another Germanic -ard boy's name

Explore names like Burnard

By themerarevintagevariantgermanic

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Burnard mean?

It is a variant of Bernard, from Germanic roots meaning 'bear' and 'brave,' hence 'brave as a bear.'

How do you pronounce Burnard?

It is said ber-NARD /bərˈnɑːrd/, two syllables with the stress on the second.

Is Burnard a boy or girl name?

Burnard is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Burnard?

It has always been rare in the United States, peaking in the nineteen-twenties.

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