Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Bernadette

Bernadette is the French female form of Bernard ultimately derived from Bernhard, an ancient Germanic masculine name meaning “bold as a bear” from the Old High German elements “bero” (bear) and “hard” (hardy, bold, brave). The Olde English cognate, Beornheard, was replaced with Bernard after the arrival of the Normans. The name was most famously borne by an 11th century Alp-dwelling monk, Bernard of Menthon, who dedicated himself to converting the people of the Alps to Christianity (an isolated group still displaying practices of the old pagan traditions). He is best remembered for setting up “traveler safe houses” for French and German pilgrims going to Rome over the St. Bernard Pass (a very treacherous pass between Switzerland and Italy). The very large working-dog known as the St. Bernard was named after this saint; the breed was used to find and fetch people in perilous conditions. The pooch would mercifully show up donning a “brandy barrel” around his neck in order to keep the suffering warm while they awaited rescue. Further cementing Bernard’s “holiness” was another prominent 12th century theologian and Doctor of the Church, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. It was common practice during the Middle Ages to name one’s child after important saints as a way of honoring the saint and protecting the baby. Female versions of masculine name were thus created for baby girls. However, it wasn’t the 11th century St. Bernard so much behind the success of Bernadette as was St. Bernadette – a hugely famous 19th century French saint known for witnessing an apparition of the Virgin Mary in Lourdes (Lourdes has since become one of the largest pilgrimage sites among Roman Catholics). See historical references below for more information on St. Bernadette. As a female personal name, Bernadette has shown great success among practicing Catholics over the years (particularly among the French). However, in more recent times, Bernadette has fallen out of circulation. The name no longer appears on the popularity charts in France or any English-speaking country.

All About the Baby Name – Bernadette

Personality

OF THE GIRL NAME BERNADETTE

The number Four personality is marked by stability and discipline. This is the personality that follows the rules and is conservative by nature.  They have an earth-bound energy that prefers to build things methodically on top of firm foundations; they don't cut corners. Fours take their time and don't like to be hurried. But the outcome of their endeavors is likely to result in some strong and useful structure, which makes them great engineers and inventors. Fours are anything but frivolous or controversial. This is a trustworthy, straight-forward personality that embodies dedication and organization. They are the backbone and anchor in their relationships, careers and communities. They are tidy, punctual, and full of integrity. Hard-work comes naturally to a Four and they are immensely reliable. This is the personality you can always count on.

Popularity

OF THE GIRL NAME BERNADETTE

Bernadette has never been a Top 100 favorite, but she did enjoy moderate success during the late 19th century and most of the 20th century. The 1940s were definitely Bernadette’s most popular years when the name briefly claimed Top 200 ranking. She even did well during the 1950s and 60s. For whatever reason, however, Bernadette dropped in popularity pretty quickly in the 1980s and 1993 is the last year she would claim Top 1000 standing. In 2012, for instance, only 88 baby girls were given the name Bernadette. Largely off the American radar today, this little French beauty and “brave bear” is pretty much up for grabs. The name is both pretty and strong. And right now it’s hugely neglected. Bernie is a cute nickname.

Quick Facts

ON BERNADETTE

GENDER:

Girl

ORIGIN:

French

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

3

RANKING POPULARITY:

N/A

PRONUNCIATION:

ber-na-DET

SIMPLE MEANING:

Brave bear

Characteristics

OF BERNADETTE

Dependable

Solid

Practical

Hard-working

Industrious

Studious

Conservative

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Bernadette

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME BERNADETTE

We cannot find any significant literary characters by the name of Bernadette

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME BERNADETTE

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Bernadette


Popular Songs

ON BERNADETTE

The Village of St. Bernadette
a song by Andy Williams

Song of Bernadette
a song by Leonard Cohen

Pictures of Bernadette
a song by Talk Talk

Little Bernadette
a song by Harry Belafonte

Bernadette
a song by The Four Tops

Famous People

NAMED BERNADETTE

St. Bernadette (19th century French saint)
Bernadette Peters (actress/singer)
Bernadette Devlin McAliskey (British politician)
Bernadette Lafont (French actress)
Bernadette O'Brien (girl crushed to death at a Smashing Pumpkins concern in Ireland)
Bernadette Chirac (French politician)
Bernadette (Bernie) Nolan (Irish entertainer)

Children of Famous People

NAMED BERNADETTE

We cannot find any children of famous people with the first name Bernadette

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME BERNADETTE

St. Bernadette Soubirous is a highly popular and venerated saint in the Catholic hierarchy, commonly referred to as St. Bernadette of Lourdes. Bernadette was born into a poor family in Lourdes, France, and spent an uneventful, if impoverished, childhood. Then, when she was fourteen, she and a sister were gathering wood near a river when Bernadette espied a beautiful young woman, dressed in white, emerging from a nearby grotto. The lady did not have much to say that first day; she only prayed the rosary along with Bernadette. On subsequent visits, however, the beautiful lady told Bernadette that she was the “Immaculate Conception”. She also told the young girl to dig in the dirt (and water sprang forth), to instruct the local priests to erect a church on the spot, and to spread the word about the need for repentance in a sinful world. Bernadette stuck to her story for the few weeks of her visions; naturally, this caused great curiosity among the villagers, dismay on the part of law enforcers, and consternation on the part of the Church. Such attention was centered on the little town, especially on Bernadette, that she entered a convent and prepared to become a nun. Never in strong health, Bernadette suffered greatly from a respiratory ailment (probably asthma) and died at the age of thirty-five. Her fame and that of her village grew even stronger after her death. Today almost five million pilgrims visit the holy site of Our Lady of Lourdes in hope of cures from illnesses, and there are some documented cases of otherwise unexplainable “miraculous” recoveries. Bernadette was declared a saint in 1933. We just can’t help adding one amusing little side note: in the 1943 film, The Song of Bernadette, the lovely Jennifer Jones received an Oscar for her portrayal of Bernadette, while Linda Darnell, one of the most scandal-ridden B-movie actresses on the Hollywood scene, made an uncredited appearance as the Blessed Virgin. Oh, irony, thy name is everywhere….