Bernard
Boy name · #1362 in 2025 · Uniqueness 69/100
Bernard ranks #1362 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 137 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1216, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 13,139 boys born in 2025 was named Bernard.
Babies named Bernard per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Bernard first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 140 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1924, when 4,505 boys were named Bernard — good for #46 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Bernard against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Bernard in class?
Bernard scores 69 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Bernard will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Bernard is most common
Geography matters for names, and Bernard is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Bernards were NY (12), CA (11), FL (10), TX (8), NC (7). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Bernard
Statistically, parents drawn to Bernard tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Howard, Leonard, Willard, Clifford, and Arnold.
HowardLeonardWillardCliffordArnoldHaroldLloydEdmund
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Bernard | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 137 | #1362 |
| 2024 | 147 | #1318 |
| 2023 | 122 | #1473 |
| 2022 | 148 | #1289 |
| 2021 | 143 | #1307 |
| 2020 | 148 | #1250 |
| 2019 | 150 | #1251 |
| 2018 | 168 | #1141 |
| 2017 | 160 | #1170 |
| 2016 | 163 | #1169 |
| 2015 | 151 | #1216 |
| 2014 | 158 | #1179 |
| 2013 | 168 | #1100 |
| 2012 | 150 | #1195 |
| 2011 | 168 | #1101 |
| 2010 | 172 | #1108 |
| 2009 | 189 | #1027 |
| 2008 | 214 | #944 |
| 2007 | 212 | #934 |
| 2006 | 194 | #958 |
| 2005 | 223 | #832 |
| 2004 | 238 | #764 |
| 2003 | 220 | #791 |
| 2002 | 226 | #762 |
| 2001 | 261 | #689 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Bernard a popular boy name?
Bernard ranked #1362 among boys in 2025 with 137 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1216.
When was the name Bernard most popular?
Bernard peaked in 1924, when 4,505 American boys received the name (ranked #46 that year). Since 1924 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Bernard?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 13,139 newborn American boys was named Bernard. It scores 69/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.