Bernice
Bernice is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Bringing victory.
Origin and history
Bernice is derived from the Ancient Greek name Pherenike, meaning 'bringing victory'. It was borne by several royal figures in antiquity, including queens of the Ptolemaic dynasty and Judea. In the United States, it was immensely popular in the early 20th century but is now uncommon.
Popularity in the United States
182,130 babies in the United States have been named Bernice since 1880. It ranks #219 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1855.
States where it is most popular
- NY (7.7 %)
- IL (7.4 %)
- PA (6 %)
- TX (4.9 %)
- GA (4.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 1,037 |
| 1890-1900 | 4,094 |
| 1900-1910 | 10,010 |
| 1910-1920 | 40,346 |
| 1920-1930 | 55,842 |
| 1930-1940 | 29,905 |
| 1940-1950 | 17,032 |
| 1950-1960 | 10,829 |
| 1960-1970 | 6,047 |
| 1970-1980 | 2,525 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,489 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,249 |
| 2000-2010 | 868 |
| 2010-2019 | 611 |
| 2020-2029 | 246 |
Famous people named Bernice
- Bernice King: minister, lawyer
- Bernice Johnson Reagon: singer, composer
Nicknames
Bernie, Bunny, Bee
Fun facts
- The name is a Macedonian Greek form of Berenice, borne by ancient Egyptian queens and mentioned in the New Testament.
- Bernice was a top 40 name for girls in the United States during the 1910s and 1920s.