Bennard
An English masculine name derived from the surname Bennett.
Name Census estimates that about 7 living Americans carry the first name Bennard. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Bennard today is around 78 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Bennard births was 1918 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Bennard. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Bennard is about 78 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Bennards were born before 1958.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Bennard. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
7
~ 1 in 48,964,905 Americans
Peak year
1918
8 babies that year
Average age
78
years old
1955 SSA rank
#3,932
Tracked since 1918
Popularity
Bennard: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Bennard from the 1910s through to the 1950s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, with 11 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1930s peak, Bennard remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bennard by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Bennard during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Bennard
The name Bennard has its origins in the Germanic languages, and it is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old High German words "bern" and "hard," which respectively mean "bear" and "hardy" or "brave." Collectively, the name Bennard can be interpreted as "brave as a bear" or "bear-like strength."
The earliest recorded instances of the name Bennard can be traced back to the 9th century, where it was used primarily in regions of present-day Germany and the surrounding areas. During this period, the name was often associated with warriors and individuals known for their courage and physical prowess.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Bennard was a Frankish nobleman who lived in the 9th century. He was a prominent military leader and played a significant role in the campaigns against the invading Vikings. Unfortunately, historical records do not provide many details about his life or specific achievements.
In the 11th century, a monk named Bennard von Hildesheim gained recognition for his scholarly works and contributions to the monastic community in the region of Hildesheim, Germany. He is credited with writing several influential religious texts and is regarded as an important figure in the intellectual life of the time.
During the 12th century, a German nobleman named Bennard von Rothenburg was known for his involvement in the Crusades. He participated in the Third Crusade, which was led by Richard the Lionheart, and was renowned for his bravery on the battlefield.
In the 15th century, a German artist and woodcarver named Bennard Strigel gained recognition for his intricate and detailed works of art. His carvings adorned churches and other religious buildings throughout Germany, and he is considered a master of the German Renaissance art style.
Another notable figure with the name Bennard was a 17th-century German composer and organist named Bennard Schmid. He was highly regarded for his contributions to sacred music and is credited with composing numerous choral works and organ pieces that were widely performed in churches across Germany during his lifetime.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the name Bennard. While the name has Germanic roots and was most prevalent in regions of present-day Germany, it has also been used in other parts of Europe and beyond, carrying the connotations of strength, bravery, and resilience.
People
Bennard + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Bennard as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Bennard: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Bennard?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 7 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Bennard going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 48,964,905 US residents.
Is Bennard a common name?
We classify Bennard as "Very Rare". It ranks above 23.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 29 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Bennard most popular?
The single biggest year for Bennard was 1918, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Bennard is about 78 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Bennard in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Bennard a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Bennard in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Bennard still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Bennard in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Bennard can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Bennard?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.