It’s generally a common trope in fantasy and Romanticist literature. It’s also a word that exists in virtually all European languages in a similar form (bard, bardo, barde, бард), although similar but different forms may be a negative.

Yes, but I didn't want to assume that most people read literature. Even if they hadn't, "bard" is definitely out there.

I don't think it's that out there. You'd have to be quite uninformed to have never heard of it. It's no verderer or reeve (medieval positions that most people actually will not have heard of).

I meant "out there" as in a word people are exposed to. Not "out there" as in outside of most people's experience.

I knew what you meant, and I disagree. I don't think the word "bard" is out there in the sense of being a word people are exposed to.