Bervin
Of uncertain origin and meaning, potentially representing a variation of Berwin.
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Bervin. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Bervin today is around 73 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Bervin births was 1958 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Bervin. 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 Bervin is about 73 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Bervins were born before 1963.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Bervin. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
1958
7 babies that year
Average age
73
years old
1958 SSA rank
#3,296
Tracked since 1917
Popularity
Bervin: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Bervin from the 1910s through to the 1950s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 10 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1910s peak, Bervin remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bervin 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 Bervin 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 Bervin
The name Bervin is thought to have originated from the Old French word "bervin," which meant "little bear." This name likely emerged in the 12th or 13th century in France, during the height of the medieval period. The root of the name, "ber," is derived from the Latin word "bera," meaning a bear.
Some historians believe that the name Bervin may have been initially used as a nickname or a descriptive term for someone who exhibited bear-like qualities, such as strength, ferocity, or a stocky build. Over time, it transitioned into a given name in its own right.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bervin can be found in a 13th-century French chronicle, which mentions a knight named Bervin de Montfort. This knight was known for his bravery and skill in combat during the Albigensian Crusade against the Cathars in southern France.
In the 15th century, a prominent figure named Bervin Le Clerc was a renowned scholar and translator from the city of Paris. He is credited with producing some of the first French translations of classical Greek and Roman texts, making them accessible to a wider audience.
During the Renaissance period, a famous Italian painter and architect named Bervin Cellini lived from 1500 to 1571. He is best known for his autobiography, which provides a fascinating glimpse into the life of a 16th-century artist and his dealings with powerful patrons like the Medici family.
In the 17th century, a French explorer and fur trader named Bervin de la Salle played a significant role in the exploration and settlement of the Mississippi River valley in North America. He established several forts and trading posts, and his expeditions helped to expand French colonial claims in the region.
Another notable figure with the name Bervin was a Scottish poet and playwright named Bervin Douglas, who lived from 1722 to 1788. He is remembered for his satirical works and his contributions to the Scottish Enlightenment, a period of intellectual and cultural flourishing in Scotland.
While the name Bervin is relatively uncommon today, it has a rich historical legacy spanning various cultures and time periods. From knights and scholars to artists and explorers, the name has been borne by individuals who left their mark on the world in diverse ways.
People
Bervin + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Bervin 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
Bervin: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Bervin?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Bervin 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 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Bervin a common name?
We classify Bervin as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 32 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Bervin most popular?
The single biggest year for Bervin was 1958, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Bervin is about 73 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Bervin a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Bervin in the SSA data are male. 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.
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.