Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Bernice
GirlGreek· “bringer of victory”
- Meaning
- bringer of victory
- Origin
- Greek
- Pronunciation
- bur-NEES
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #4,082
- US babies 2025
- 35
- Best rank
- #39 (1921)
- Peak year
- 1921
Meaning and origin of Bernice
Bernice is a Greek name that means “bringer of victory”.
Bernice is the English form of Berenike, a Macedonian version of the Greek Pherenike, meaning bringer of victory. Several Ptolemaic queens of Egypt bore the name, and the constellation Coma Berenices, Berenice's Hair, honors one of them. In the Book of Acts a Bernice sits beside her brother, King Agrippa, as Paul makes his defense. The name was a favorite in the United States in the early twentieth century, and today it reads as vintage. Americans say bur-NEES, sometimes BUR-nihs. Bernie and Bunny are the classic nicknames, and Berenice keeps the old four-syllable form.
Popularity over time
Bernice has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 105 different years. Its best national rank was #39 in 1921, the same year it reached its highest count of 6,190 babies. In 2025, 35 babies were named Bernice, and it ranked #4,082 nationally. That is 39% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #40 in 1920, #206 in 1950, #868 in 1980, #1,791 in 2000, #2,700 in 2010, and #4,082 in 2025. Of the 182,130 US girls named Bernice since records began, 31% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 40,346 babies. Since 2010, 857 more have been named Bernice.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Beatrice, Annie, Thelma, Lucille, and Vivian.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Bernice is usually pronounced bur-NEES, with two syllables. It has seven letters, starts with B and ends in “-ce”.
Middle names for Bernice
A few middle names that flow with Bernice: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Bernice
Similar names
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Lists that include Bernice
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Bernice mean?
Bernice is a Greek name that means “bringer of victory”.
What is the origin of the name Bernice?
Bernice has Greek roots. Bernice is the English form of Berenike, a Macedonian version of the Greek Pherenike, meaning bringer of victory.
Is Bernice a popular name?
Not especially. Bernice ranked #4,082 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Bernice a boy or girl name?
Bernice is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Bernice?
Bernice is usually pronounced bur-NEES. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings