Bernardetta

Bernardetta is an Italian feminine diminutive form of Bernarda, itself the feminine of Bernardo, which derives from the Old High German name Bernhard, composed of the elements bern, meaning bear, and hard, meaning brave or strong. The name thus carries the sense of bold as a bear or strong as a bear. It is closely associated with Saint Bernadette of Lourdes, born Marie-Bernarde Soubirous, whose Occitan baptismal name Bernada inspired this Italianized rendering. Related forms include Bernadette, Bernarda, and Bernardina.