Fun Facts About the Name Bernice
- A favorite of earlier generations: Bernice appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 38 years. Its last run lasted 37 consecutive years, from 1900 through 1936.
- More than 185 thousand babies named Bernice: U.S. records list 185,532 babies given the name Bernice from 1880 through 2025. Even 3,403 boys received the name Bernice - about 1 boy for every 54 girls.
What Does the Name Bernice Mean?
Bernice is the English form of a Macedonian Greek name, taken from the shortened New Testament Greek Bernikē (Βερνίκη), which comes from the fuller Berenikē (Βερενίκη). The name is commonly explained as "bringer of victory," from the Greek pherein ("to bring") and nikē ("victory"). The second element is clear; the first is less certain. Some accounts connect it instead to a Macedonian root (at times linked to the word for "bear"), so the sense behind the name before its Greek form is not fully settled. The name is unrelated to the similar-looking Germanic names beginning in Bern-, such as Bernard.
Bernice Name History & Origins
The name belonged to royal women of the Hellenistic world. Berenice I and Berenice II were queens of Ptolemaic Egypt, and several cities were named Berenikē, including one in Cyrenaica and one on the Red Sea coast. In the New Testament (Acts 25 - 26), Bernice is the daughter of Herod Agrippa I and sister of Agrippa II; she and her brother heard the apostle Paul's defense before the Roman governor Festus. The shortened Greek form used for her, Bernikē, passed into Latin and then into English as Bernice.
An early Christian martyr named Berenice, or Bernice, was venerated, which helped carry the name into Christian use. English speakers adopted Bernice as a biblical name, and it has been used in the English-speaking world since the modern period. The name Veronica is sometimes traced to the same Greek original, Berenikē.
How Popular is the Name Bernice?
Bernice ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1898 through 1898, then returned in 1900 and remained through 1936.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,082 | 35 | 0.0022% |
| 2024 | #3,821 | 39 | 0.0024% |
| 2023 | #4,059 | 36 | 0.0022% |
| 2022 | #3,655 | 42 | 0.0026% |
| 2021 | #3,116 | 52 | 0.0032% |
| 2020 | #3,553 | 42 | 0.0026% |
| 2019 | #3,007 | 54 | 0.0032% |
| 2018 | #2,685 | 64 | 0.0038% |
| 2017 | #2,516 | 71 | 0.0041% |
| 2016 | #3,108 | 53 | 0.0030% |
| 2015 | #3,004 | 57 | 0.0032% |
| 2014 | #2,689 | 65 | 0.0036% |
| 2013 | #2,512 | 71 | 0.0040% |
| 2012 | #3,424 | 47 | 0.0027% |
| 2011 | #2,801 | 62 | 0.0035% |
| 2010 | #2,699 | 66 | 0.0037% |
| 2009 | #2,403 | 80 | 0.0044% |
| 2008 | #2,298 | 85 | 0.0045% |
| 2007 | #2,372 | 80 | 0.0042% |
| 2006 | #2,329 | 81 | 0.0043% |
| 2005 | #2,185 | 84 | 0.0045% |
| 2004 | #2,101 | 86 | 0.0047% |
| 2003 | #2,126 | 82 | 0.0045% |
| 2002 | #1,987 | 88 | 0.0049% |
| 2001 | #1,716 | 105 | 0.0058% |
| 2000 | #1,791 | 97 | 0.0053% |
| 1999 | #1,431 | 122 | 0.0069% |
| 1998 | #1,609 | 101 | 0.0057% |
| 1997 | #1,476 | 111 | 0.0064% |
| 1996 | #1,424 | 116 | 0.0066% |
| 1995 | #1,466 | 109 | 0.0062% |
| 1994 | #1,251 | 137 | 0.0077% |
| 1993 | #1,326 | 126 | 0.0070% |
| 1992 | #1,254 | 138 | 0.0075% |
| 1991 | #1,206 | 143 | 0.0076% |
| 1990 | #1,176 | 146 | 0.0077% |
| 1989 | #1,145 | 144 | 0.0078% |
| 1988 | #1,110 | 140 | 0.0079% |
| 1987 | #1,128 | 132 | 0.0076% |
| 1986 | #1,260 | 107 | 0.0062% |
| 1985 | #1,030 | 146 | 0.0085% |
| 1984 | #936 | 157 | 0.0093% |
| 1983 | #1,000 | 143 | 0.0086% |
| 1982 | #884 | 174 | 0.0103% |
| 1981 | #891 | 169 | 0.0101% |
| 1980 | #867 | 177 | 0.0107% |
| 1979 | #903 | 165 | 0.0103% |
| 1978 | #811 | 184 | 0.0120% |
| 1977 | #824 | 182 | 0.0119% |
| 1976 | #613 | 255 | 0.0174% |
| 1975 | #674 | 222 | 0.0152% |
| 1974 | #601 | 262 | 0.0179% |
| 1973 | #592 | 265 | 0.0182% |
| 1972 | #569 | 289 | 0.0190% |
| 1971 | #553 | 326 | 0.0196% |
| 1970 | #518 | 375 | 0.0215% |
| 1969 | #495 | 385 | 0.0228% |
| 1968 | #469 | 420 | 0.0256% |
| 1967 | #441 | 457 | 0.0277% |
| 1966 | #433 | 471 | 0.0278% |
| 1965 | #389 | 565 | 0.0320% |
| 1964 | #374 | 651 | 0.0344% |
| 1963 | #359 | 702 | 0.0364% |
| 1962 | #342 | 761 | 0.0387% |
| 1961 | #344 | 763 | 0.0378% |
| 1960 | #319 | 872 | 0.0431% |
| 1959 | #319 | 852 | 0.0421% |
| 1958 | #301 | 889 | 0.0442% |
| 1957 | #288 | 982 | 0.0480% |
| 1956 | #266 | 1,032 | 0.0514% |
| 1955 | #256 | 1,045 | 0.0534% |
| 1954 | #249 | 1,075 | 0.0554% |
| 1953 | #236 | 1,156 | 0.0614% |
| 1952 | #227 | 1,212 | 0.0654% |
| 1951 | #213 | 1,286 | 0.0714% |
| 1950 | #206 | 1,301 | 0.0759% |
| 1949 | #198 | 1,379 | 0.0806% |
| 1948 | #185 | 1,489 | 0.0877% |
| 1947 | #172 | 1,688 | 0.0952% |
| 1946 | #179 | 1,468 | 0.0934% |
| 1945 | #157 | 1,476 | 0.1129% |
| 1944 | #149 | 1,658 | 0.1249% |
| 1943 | #143 | 1,890 | 0.1355% |
| 1942 | #137 | 1,962 | 0.1453% |
| 1941 | #133 | 1,934 | 0.1601% |
| 1940 | #121 | 2,087 | 0.1825% |
| 1939 | #116 | 2,123 | 0.1936% |
| 1938 | #112 | 2,290 | 0.2075% |
| 1937 | #104 | 2,384 | 0.2241% |
| 1936 | #95 | 2,540 | 0.2441% |
| 1935 | #90 | 2,777 | 0.2648% |
| 1934 | #82 | 2,980 | 0.2854% |
| 1933 | #83 | 3,008 | 0.2984% |
| 1932 | #71 | 3,542 | 0.3319% |
| 1931 | #63 | 3,822 | 0.3590% |
| 1930 | #58 | 4,439 | 0.3943% |
| 1929 | #55 | 4,551 | 0.4076% |
| 1928 | #53 | 4,943 | 0.4286% |
| 1927 | #49 | 5,305 | 0.4449% |
| 1926 | #45 | 5,443 | 0.4592% |
| 1925 | #46 | 5,728 | 0.4705% |
| 1924 | #47 | 6,033 | 0.4831% |
| 1923 | #43 | 5,809 | 0.4815% |
| 1922 | #41 | 5,912 | 0.4923% |
| 1921 | #39 | 6,190 | 0.5020% |
| 1920 | #40 | 5,928 | 0.4947% |
| 1919 | #42 | 5,793 | 0.5126% |
| 1918 | #41 | 5,892 | 0.5090% |
| 1917 | #42 | 5,546 | 0.5129% |
| 1916 | #42 | 5,183 | 0.4963% |
| 1915 | #42 | 4,937 | 0.5018% |
| 1914 | #43 | 3,730 | 0.4898% |
| 1913 | #45 | 3,036 | 0.4861% |
| 1912 | #51 | 2,593 | 0.4646% |
| 1911 | #51 | 1,915 | 0.4578% |
| 1910 | #58 | 1,721 | 0.4340% |
| 1909 | #62 | 1,337 | 0.3850% |
| 1908 | #61 | 1,363 | 0.4077% |
| 1907 | #65 | 1,185 | 0.3720% |
| 1906 | #66 | 1,107 | 0.3749% |
| 1905 | #74 | 1,032 | 0.3539% |
| 1904 | #75 | 962 | 0.3494% |
| 1903 | #77 | 868 | 0.3313% |
| 1902 | #81 | 794 | 0.3007% |
| 1901 | #86 | 660 | 0.2758% |
| 1900 | #96 | 702 | 0.2342% |
| 1899 | #103 | 515 | 0.2210% |
| 1898 | #96 | 619 | 0.2392% |
| 1897 | #103 | 519 | 0.2216% |
| 1896 | #104 | 489 | 0.2055% |
| 1895 | #109 | 447 | 0.1913% |
| 1894 | #121 | 389 | 0.1745% |
| 1893 | #125 | 340 | 0.1597% |
| 1892 | #137 | 299 | 0.1408% |
| 1891 | #142 | 248 | 0.1337% |
| 1890 | #155 | 229 | 0.1203% |
| 1889 | #154 | 206 | 0.1155% |
| 1888 | #177 | 157 | 0.0879% |
| 1887 | #178 | 127 | 0.0870% |
| 1886 | #173 | 135 | 0.0934% |
| 1885 | #193 | 96 | 0.0722% |
| 1884 | #208 | 83 | 0.0643% |
| 1883 | #210 | 69 | 0.0614% |
| 1882 | #229 | 57 | 0.0529% |
| 1881 | #222 | 48 | 0.0522% |
| 1880 | #201 | 59 | 0.0648% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | #7,729 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #8,239 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1982 | #5,704 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1978 | #5,885 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1977 | #5,933 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1976 | #5,682 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1975 | #4,854 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1974 | #4,228 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #3,248 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1972 | #3,180 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1971 | #4,984 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1970 | #3,304 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1969 | #2,318 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1968 | #2,749 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1967 | #3,265 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1966 | #1,973 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1965 | #2,380 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #2,046 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1963 | #2,121 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1962 | #2,385 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1961 | #2,728 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1960 | #2,433 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1959 | #1,809 | 20 | 0.0009% |
| 1958 | #1,845 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1957 | #1,840 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1956 | #1,643 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1955 | #1,615 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1954 | #1,630 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1953 | #1,968 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1952 | #1,550 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1951 | #1,410 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1950 | #1,618 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1949 | #1,206 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 1948 | #1,708 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1947 | #1,216 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 1946 | #1,410 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 1945 | #1,350 | 24 | 0.0018% |
| 1944 | #1,109 | 36 | 0.0026% |
| 1943 | #1,109 | 38 | 0.0027% |
| 1942 | #923 | 52 | 0.0038% |
| 1941 | #988 | 42 | 0.0034% |
| 1940 | #907 | 49 | 0.0042% |
| 1939 | #857 | 51 | 0.0046% |
| 1938 | #964 | 43 | 0.0039% |
| 1937 | #881 | 49 | 0.0046% |
| 1936 | #816 | 56 | 0.0054% |
| 1935 | #697 | 75 | 0.0072% |
| 1934 | #733 | 69 | 0.0067% |
| 1933 | #711 | 72 | 0.0073% |
| 1932 | #652 | 87 | 0.0083% |
| 1931 | #719 | 72 | 0.0069% |
| 1930 | #730 | 75 | 0.0068% |
| 1929 | #649 | 90 | 0.0084% |
| 1928 | #638 | 95 | 0.0086% |
| 1927 | #576 | 115 | 0.0102% |
| 1926 | #639 | 97 | 0.0087% |
| 1925 | #678 | 89 | 0.0080% |
| 1924 | #609 | 110 | 0.0097% |
| 1923 | #626 | 104 | 0.0095% |
| 1922 | #584 | 121 | 0.0111% |
| 1921 | #581 | 119 | 0.0108% |
| 1920 | #583 | 114 | 0.0107% |
| 1919 | #593 | 103 | 0.0105% |
| 1918 | #561 | 116 | 0.0114% |
| 1917 | #715 | 73 | 0.0079% |
| 1916 | #604 | 93 | 0.0104% |
| 1915 | #591 | 93 | 0.0110% |
| 1914 | #617 | 67 | 0.0102% |
| 1913 | #616 | 51 | 0.0099% |
| 1912 | #785 | 31 | 0.0072% |
| 1911 | #609 | 25 | 0.0111% |
| 1910 | #539 | 28 | 0.0144% |
| 1909 | #575 | 21 | 0.0128% |
| 1908 | #688 | 15 | 0.0097% |
| 1907 | #495 | 22 | 0.0150% |
| 1906 | #506 | 20 | 0.0150% |
| 1905 | #507 | 20 | 0.0151% |
| 1904 | #568 | 16 | 0.0125% |
| 1903 | #703 | 11 | 0.0092% |
| 1902 | #589 | 14 | 0.0114% |
| 1900 | #845 | 10 | 0.0066% |
| 1899 | #791 | 8 | 0.0075% |
| 1898 | #747 | 9 | 0.0073% |
| 1897 | #497 | 16 | 0.0142% |
| 1896 | #782 | 9 | 0.0075% |
| 1895 | #992 | 6 | 0.0051% |
| 1894 | #967 | 6 | 0.0052% |
| 1892 | #1,082 | 5 | 0.0041% |
| 1891 | #567 | 11 | 0.0109% |
| 1890 | #747 | 8 | 0.0072% |
| 1889 | #802 | 7 | 0.0063% |
| 1888 | #1,051 | 5 | 0.0041% |
| 1883 | #729 | 7 | 0.0067% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Bernice
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Bernice Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You can go to great heights and equally great depths. You are emotional and fixed in your opinions. You are hospitable, sentimental, often psychic, sometimes moody. You are ruled by love and the lack of it and feel a need to be encouraged and appreciated. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Bernice's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Bernice's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.