Meaning & History
Bernát is the Hungarian form of Bernard. The Irish playwright and essayist George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) and the British World War II field marshal Bernard Montgomery (1887-1976). Another renowned bearer is the French cyclist Bernard Hinault (1954-).
The name Bernard is composed of the Old German elements bern meaning "bear" and hart meaning "hard, firm, brave, hardy". The Normans introduced Bernard to England, assimilating the longer-standing Old English cognate Beornheard. The name was also borne by several saints, including Saint Bernard of Menthon (10th century), patron saint of mountaineering, and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (12th century), a influential theologian and Doctor of the Church.
Variants of Bernát in other languages include Beñat (Basque), Bernat (Catalan), and Bernhard (Swedish). The surname Bernát also appears in Slovak, with female counterpart Bernátová.
- Meaning: "bear" + "hard, brave"
- Origin: Old German
- Type: Given name (Slovak surname also)
- Usage regions: Hungary, Slovakia
Related Names
Sources: Wiktionary — Bernát