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 Β· Bernadine
US births per 5-year period, 1990βpresent (SSA data).