Berdene
A feminine name derived from the French "berdaine", meaning a small bundle.
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Berdene. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Berdene today is around 96 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Berdene births was 1922 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Berdene. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Berdene is about 96 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Berdenes were born before 1940.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Berdene. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
1922
11 babies that year
Average age
96
years old
1943 SSA rank
#4,753
Tracked since 1914
Popularity
Berdene: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Berdene from the 1910s through to the 1940s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 46 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Berdene by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Berdene during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Berdene
The name Berdene is a unique and intriguing given name with roots that can be traced back to various cultures and languages. Its origins are somewhat obscure, but it is believed to be derived from a combination of Germanic and Old English elements.
One theory suggests that Berdene is a variation of the Old English name Beornwine, which translates to "brave friend" or "warrior friend." The first part, "beorn," means "bear" or "warrior," while the second part, "wine," means "friend." This name was popular among the Anglo-Saxons and may have been adapted over time to become Berdene.
Another possible origin of Berdene is the Germanic name Berthwin or Bertwin, which means "bright friend" or "shining friend." The first part, "bert" or "berht," means "bright" or "shining," while the second part, "win," means "friend." This name was common among the Franks and other Germanic tribes, and it may have evolved into Berdene through linguistic shifts and regional variations.
While there are no definitive historical records or ancient texts that directly reference the name Berdene, its components can be found in various medieval sources and documents. For example, names containing the element "beorn" or "berht" were prevalent in Anglo-Saxon and Frankish societies.
One of the earliest recorded instances of a similar name is Berwyn, a Welsh name that dates back to the 12th century. Berwyn was the name of a Welsh prince and warrior, and it shares linguistic roots with Berdene, further suggesting its ancient origins.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Berdene or variations thereof. Here are five examples:
1. Berdene Benson (1898-1976), an American actress and vaudeville performer known for her roles in Broadway shows and early Hollywood films.
2. Berdene Delores Markham (1920-2008), an American businesswoman and philanthropist who founded the Markham Foundation for Cancer Research.
3. Berdene Yvonne Sims (1933-2020), an American singer and actress best known for her roles in television series like "The Jeffersons" and "227."
4. Berdene Wilkinson (1928-2012), a Canadian politician and social activist who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
5. Berdene Yvette Layton (1942-), an American educator and author who has written several books on teaching methods and curriculum development.
While the name Berdene may not be as widely recognized as some other given names, its unique blend of cultural and linguistic influences has contributed to its enduring presence throughout history. From ancient warriors and princes to modern-day artists and activists, the name Berdene has left its mark on various societies and continues to intrigue those who explore its rich heritage.
People
Berdene + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Berdene as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Berdene: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Berdene?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Berdene going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Berdene a common name?
We classify Berdene as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 93 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Berdene most popular?
The single biggest year for Berdene was 1922, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Berdene is about 96 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Berdene in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Berdene a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Berdene in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Berdene still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Berdene in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Berdene can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Berdene?
Want to know how many people have the name Berdene? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.