Bernice Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Bernice is a name of Greek origin meaning 'bearer of victory', with historical roots tracing back to the name Berenikē. It has evolved through various languages and forms, maintaining a royal and elegant connotation. The name is mentioned in the Bible, adding to its significance. Today, it is seen as a vintage choice, associated with notable figures in history.
The name Bernice is most popular in North Dakota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Bernice has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Bernice' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 615th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 822nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1717th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3756th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 12331st out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 44th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 99th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 260th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 569th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1178th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2151st out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 3059th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Bernice' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Bernice"
Pronunciation
/bərˈniːs/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Bernice derives from the Greek name 'Berenikē', which means 'bearer of victory'. It was historically associated with several queens of Egypt.
Meaning
bearer of victory
Language Evolution
Berenikē (Ancient Greek), Bernice (Latin), Bernice (Old French), Bernice (Modern English)
Biblical Background
In the New Testament, Bernice is mentioned as the daughter of King Herod Agrippa I, giving the name a historical and royal connotation.
Historical Usage
The name Bernice gained popularity in the Hellenistic period and continued to be used in various forms throughout the centuries, particularly in Christian contexts due to its biblical reference.
Variants & Derivatives
Berenice, Bernice, Berenika, Berny
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Bernice is viewed as a vintage name that carries a sense of elegance and historical significance, though it is less commonly used than in past centuries.
Famous People
Bernice King, civil rights leader, Bernice Johnson Reagon, activist and musician
Explore More Bernice Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Bernice"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Bernice"
"Bernice" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 615th of 7545 | 1,688 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 822nd of 6773 | 1,075 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1717th of 7552 | 395 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 3756th of 10718 | 121 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 12331st of 16616 | 17 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 44th of 9107 | 96,002 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 99th of 9204 | 50,406 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 260th of 12526 | 20,603 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 569th of 19264 | 5,000 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1178th of 27321 | 2,227 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 2151st of 35406 | 1,377 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 3059th of 30306 | 646 |
Regional Popularity of "Bernice" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
16.91% 400th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
25.71% 605th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
40.59% 1158th/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - |
64.38% 2265th/3518 |
- |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Bernice" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
1.91% 27th/1416 |
4.50% 62nd/1379 |
2.16% 51st/2366 |
3.59% 41st/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
6.60% 102nd/1546 |
6.04% 94th/1556 |
3.14% 74th/2353 |
8.47% 131st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
14.59% 325th/2227 |
10.95% 266th/2430 |
7.36% 210th/2853 |
11.57% 321st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
23.02% 676th/2937 |
14.96% 521st/3483 |
15.01% 528th/3518 |
14.79% 598th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
40.90% 1507th/3685 |
26.64% 1192nd/4475 |
23.16% 1203rd/5194 |
13.90% 878th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
74.53% 3415th/4582 |
37.66% 1945th/5164 |
30.06% 2198th/7313 |
19.59% 1462nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
64.61% 2899th/4487 |
54.51% 3719th/6822 |
47.74% 2996th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Bernice"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Bernice" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.