Brave as a bear
Bernadine is the feminine diminutive of Bernard. It combines the Germanic elements 'bern', meaning bear, and 'hard', meaning brave, hardy, or strong. While it was popular in the mid-20th century, it now carries a vintage charm.
Less common today
Bernadine isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #6,078 in 1996.
First female director of the National Institutes of Health
Law professor and former leader of the Weather Underground
Title character of the 1957 film and song · Bernadine
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
