Meaning & History
Bernadine is a feminine given name, a variant spelling of Bernardine. It is the feminine form of the masculine Bernard, which derives from the Old German elements bern "bear" and hart "hard, firm, brave, hardy". The name was popularized in England by the Normans, who introduced a continental version that replaced the Old English cognate Beornheard.
The masculine Bernard has been borne by numerous saints, including Saint Bernard of Menthon, a 10th-century patron saint of mountaineering and skiing who built hospices in the Alps, and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, a 12th-century theologian and Doctor of the Church. Secular notable bearers in the Bernard family include the Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, British World War II field marshal Bernard Montgomery, and French cyclist Bernard Hinault. Among Bernadines, notable bearers include American physician and former NASA leader Bernadine Healy (1944–2011), New Zealand cricketer Bernadine Bezuidenhout, and New Zealand broadcaster Bernadine Oliver-Kerby.
The name has several cognate feminine forms in other languages: Bernarda in Spanish, Berendina in Dutch, Bernadette in German, Bernardine in French (of which Bernadine is a spelling variant), Bernadett in Hungarian, and Bernardetta in Italian.
- Meaning: Diminutive of Bernard, “bear + hardy”
- Origin: Germanic
- Type: First name
- Usage regions: English-speaking countries
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Bernadine