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Name Lineage

    The first name Barnard

    A boy’s name from German.

    Pronounced /ˈbɑɹnɑɹd/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    German origin

    English, Dutch, and French surname, variant of Bernard. This sense is also found in Slavic borrowings (Polish, Slovenian, Czech). Also Americanized from German Bernhard, Bernhardt, of the same meaning.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Barnard at birth, 1880–2025

    In 1998, 6 boys born in the United States were named Barnard, the 8,583rd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1963, when 25 were.

    01530 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    895
    babies named Barnard since 1880
    #8,583
    rank in 1998
    1963
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Nicknames for Barnard

    • Barn

    Famous people named Barnard

    2 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Alfred Barnard Basset
      British mathematician, 1854–1930
    • Bernard of Vienne
      Bishop of Vienne, 778–842

    More German boys’ names

    All 62 names of German origin

    Questions

    What does the name Barnard mean?
    English, Dutch, and French surname, variant of Bernard. This sense is also found in Slavic borrowings (Polish, Slovenian, Czech). Also Americanized from German Bernhard, Bernhardt, of the same meaning.
    What is the origin of the name Barnard?
    English, Dutch, and French surname, variant of Bernard. This sense is also found in Slavic borrowings (Polish, Slovenian, Czech). Also Americanized from German Bernhard, Bernhardt, of the same meaning.
    What are nicknames for Barnard?
    Common nicknames for Barnard include Barn.
    Is Barnard a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 895 US babies named Barnard since 1880 were boys.
    When was Barnard most popular?
    1963 in the United States, when 25 babies were named Barnard, its highest rank at 1,590th.
    How do you pronounce Barnard?
    Barnard is /ˈbɑɹnɑɹd/, 2 syllables.
    Is Barnard also a surname?
    Yes. Barnard is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.