Bernhard: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

–

among boys

Babies in 2025

named Bernhard

How common

–

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1916

55 babies

All-time total

1,671

#3,695 all-time among boys

First recorded

1880

in Social Security records

Bernhard popularity over time

1,671 babies have been named Bernhard since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	51	5	–	#591
1890s	53	5	+4%	#709
1900s	27	3	-49%	#936
1910s	286	29	+959%	#844
1920s	314	31	+10%	#1,037
1930s	227	23	-28%	#1,246
1940s	161	16	-29%	#1,523
1950s	179	18	+11%	#1,624
1960s	188	19	+5%	#1,591
1970s	72	7	-62%	#2,306
1980s	38	4	-47%	#4,641
1990s	39	4	+3%	#4,791
2000s	15	2	-62%	#10,543
2010s	15	2	0%	#12,310
2020s (to 2025)	6	1	-33%	#10,966

The story of Bernhard

Bernhard is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1880, 1,671 American babies have been named Bernhard. Its peak came in 1916, when 55 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Bernhard stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Bernhard?

The median living Bernhard is about 63 years old; half are between 52 and 73. An estimated 600 people named Bernhard are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Bernhard year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	6	#10,966
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	5	#12,510
2016	–	–
2015	5	#12,310
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	5	#12,461
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	5	#11,561
2003	–	–
2002	–	–
2001	5	#10,749
2000	5	#10,543
1995	5	#9,007
1990	6	#7,271
1985	7	#5,200
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	16	#2,306
1965	22	#1,672
1960	21	#1,778
1955	14	#2,152
1950	18	#1,749
1945	12	#2,016
1940	20	#1,523
1935	19	#1,591
1930	27	#1,400
1925	28	#1,393
1920	45	#1,037
1915	41	#980
1910	8	#1,207
1905	7	#1,011
1900	5	#1,332
1895	5	#1,094
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	8	#685

Famous people named Bernhard

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Bernhard Riemann German mathematician (1826–1866) 19th century
2 Bernhard Langer German professional golfer (born 1957) Contemporary
3 Bernhard von Bülow Chancellor of the German Empire from 1900 to 1909 1849–1929 · 19th century
4 Bernhard III, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen Duke of Saxe-Meiningen from 1914 to 1918 1851–1928 · 19th century
5 Bernhard Rust Minister of Science, Education and National Culture of Nazi Germany (1883–1945) 19th century
6 Bernhard Schlink German writer (born 1944) Contemporary
7 Bernhard Lichtenberg German Roman Catholic priest (1875–1943) 19th century
8 Bernhard Wicki Austrian-Swiss actor, director and writer 1919–2000 · Contemporary
9 Bernhard II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen Duke of Saxe-Meiningen from 1803 to 1866 1800–1882 · 18th century
10 Bernhard Grzimek German zoo director (1909–1987) Contemporary
11 Bernhard Crusell Finnish composer and clarinettist (1775–1838) 18th century
12 Bernhard I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen Duke of Saxe-Meiningen from 1691 to 1706 1649–1706 · 17th century
13 Bernhard Russi Swiss alpine skier b. 1948 · Contemporary
14 Bernhard Cullmann German footballer b. 1949 · Contemporary
15 Bernhard, Count of Anhalt 11th/12th-century German nobleman 1140–1212 · Medieval
16 Bernhard Karlgren Swedish sinologist and linguist (1889–1978) 19th century
17 Bernhard Romberg German cellist and composer (1767–1841) 18th century
18 Bernhard Goetzke German actor (1884–1964) 19th century
19 Bernhard Schmidt Estonian optician (1879–1935) 19th century
20 Bernhard Kohl Austrian cyclist (born 1982) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Bernhard, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Bernhard?

The median living Bernhard is about 63 years old. Half of all living Bernhards are between 52 and 73 years old.

How many people named Bernhard are alive today?

An estimated 600 people named Bernhard are alive in the United States, based on 1,671 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Bernhard in 2025?

Bernhard did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Bernhard?

1,671 babies have been named Bernhard in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Bernhard most popular?

Bernhard peaked in 1916, when 55 newborns received the name.

Is Bernhard a boy or girl name?

Bernhard is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Bernhard rising or falling?

Bernhard is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Bernhard?

Well-known people named Bernhard include Bernhard Riemann (mathematician), Bernhard Langer (golfer), Bernhard von Bülow (politician).

Names like Bernhard

Names that sound and feel close to Bernhard: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Bernhard with similar names → More names starting with B →