Find out how popular the first name Bernice has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Bernice by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Bernice is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 99% of people named Bernice being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 36 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Bernice.

The history of the first name Bernice

The name Bernice has its origins in the ancient Macedonian language, derived from the Greek word "Phrenik," meaning "victorious" or "bringer of victory." It dates back to the 4th century BC and was popular among the nobility and royal families of the Macedonian Empire.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Bernice, the daughter of Egyptian Ptolemaic ruler Ptolemy I Soter, who lived in the late 4th and early 3rd centuries BC. She was married to Cyrenaic ruler Ophellas and later to her brother, Ptolemy II Philadelphus.

In ancient Greek mythology, Bernice was also the name of a beautiful queen of Tyre who lived in the 6th century BC. She sacrificed her hair to the gods to ensure her husband's safe return from battle, and the hair was later transformed into a constellation known as "Coma Berenices" or "Berenice's Hair."

The name gained popularity during the Roman Empire, with notable historical figures such as Bernice, the daughter of Herod Agrippa I, who was a prominent figure in the early Christian church and was mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles in the Bible.

In the Middle Ages, the name Bernice was relatively uncommon but was occasionally used in various European regions. One notable bearer was Bernice, the daughter of the 11th-century German nobleman Count Berenger of Sulzbach, who married the future King Philip I of France.

During the Renaissance period, the name experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly among the nobility and upper classes. One prominent figure was Bernice, the daughter of the 16th-century Italian nobleman Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, who married the Duke of Ferrara.

In the 19th century, the name Bernice became more widespread, with several notable literary figures bearing the name, such as American author Bernice Fitz-Randolph and British novelist Bernice Rubens, who was born in 1928.

Other famous individuals named Bernice throughout history include Bernice Pauahi Bishop (1831-1884), a Hawaiian princess and philanthropist, and Bernice Eddy (1904-1997), an American scientist and educator who made significant contributions to the field of nutrition.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Bernice was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Bernice, please contact us.

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