This is my middle name. It was my great aunt's name, also. It tends to make me think of the Bernese Mountain Dog, lol. I prefer the spelling of "Berenice" with the extra "e" but this spelling is fine too. I know a lot of people don't like this name, and I can agree that it does sound better on an old lady...but if you think about it, they were young once too, and it probably sounded just fine on them while they were babies, kids, teenagers, and young adults. I think Bernie is a very cute nickname! I decided a while ago that I like this name, though it's not on the top of my list of names for my daughters.
― Anonymous User 5/31/2024
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Bernice Williams is an American songwriter and music business manager, who wrote the 1960s song "Duke of Earl" along with Gene Chandler and Earl Edwards. The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002 and is in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 500 songs that shaped rock and roll. In the 1960s, she wrote three Billboard Hot 100 hit songs.
― Anonymous User 10/8/2023
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Bernice Jan Liu Bik-yee is a Canadian actress, singer, and commercial model based in Hong Kong. She has previously held the title Miss Chinese Vancouver 2000 as well as Miss Chinese International 2001, the latter position bringing her fame in Hong Kong. Liu left Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) in 2011 and returned to Canada to continue her education. As of 2016, she has continued her acting for new broadcaster ViuTV.
― Anonymous User 6/21/2023, edited 6/21/2023
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This spelling is also sometimes used to designate the Ancient Brittonic Kingdom of Bernicia (translated as Bernice or Beornice in Old English).
Bernice Gera (1931–1992) was an American baseball umpire. She became the first woman to umpire a professional baseball game in 1972, retiring after one game citing the resentment of other umpires.
― Anonymous User 4/7/2022
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I think this name is pretty and cute. I like that it's unique. I could see it becoming popular again.
I named my daughter Bernice. Bur-niece is how we pronounce it. I named her after my grandmother Bernice, but she preferred to be called Niecy. We get a lot of compliments on the name. It’s kind of old fashioned and southern-ish so I gave her a “normal” middle name in case she wants to be called by that later on. My grandmother was a beautiful, strong woman and I hope she grows up like her namesake.
I learned about this name from a joke in a TV show. I think it's quite pretty."Look, Bernice! That cat just flung a wig at us."
― Anonymous User 8/8/2019
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I rate Bernice 3/10. It seems a typo as I've always seen Berenice and Bérénice. Also the pronunciation is different: in Bernice there is the syllable 'ber' while in the English pronunciation of Berenice I "read" the second e.
In 2018, 83 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) Bernice who is registered female with the Social Security Administration. It is the 532nd most common female first name for living U.S. citizens.
Professor Bernice Summerfield, an archaeologist, is a character from the novels about Doctor Who and his adventures. Bernice goes by the nickname "Benny".
― Anonymous User 6/5/2017
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One of my favorite types of names are old-fashioned names. Names like Florence, Audrey, Veronica, Mary, Martha, Margaret, Iris, Mae, etc. Bernice is VERY pretty. I don't think I'd ever give my daughter this name nowadays, but maybe 70-80 years ago, I definitely would.
In "The Year of the Flood" by Margaret Atwood there was a secondary character called Bernice, a teenage girl born into the religious sect of Gardeners. Not a likable character; good Biblical reference though.
I really love this site, but the meaning of the name would be appreciated. I think it means victorious. My mother's name is Bernice, she never liked her name. It is a sweet name, of a lovely and kind lady.
When I was younger, Bernice was my least favorite name. I still don't like the name Bernice much because I just can't picture a little girl or a teenager with this name. I just don't think it is very pretty.
I have an aunt whose middle name is Bernice, pronounced Bur-niece. She was often called Neece, pronounced Knee-see. She wasn't overly fond of the nickname, but everyone called her that. My view is most people don't like their nicknames when they are young but begin to enjoy them when they get older. My aunt grew up in the fifties and though we are from southern origins she is neither stupid nor do I think the name ugly. It is old fashioned, but I tend to stick to old fashioned anyway. Anything is better than some of the ridiculous names they have nowadays.
This was also used as a boy's name in the C19th, although very rarely. I have a distant cousin who was a bricklayer. He died in WW1, a sergeant in the Machine Gun Corps -- actually his Army Records call him Bernard.
I love this name! It has a certain sturdy, antiqued sophistication but is also rather light and airy, in my opinion - sort of like a tea-dyed lace doily :) It would be incredibly refreshing to meet a young Bernice these days.
Makes me think of the short story "Bernice Bobs Her Hair" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. You would think having such a 'flapper' story written about a girl with the name would make me think of the 20s, but it doesn't. I prefer the spelling Berenice, but the pronunciation isn't the greatest.
It's old fashioned, but more feminine than many names currently given to girls. It's cute, and I wouldn't hesitate to bestow it on a modern girl [She'd be the only one in school with a pronouncable name].
― Anonymous User 11/8/2008
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It's hideous. It makes me think of rather dimwitted old women. This name can sound very annoying in certain people's pronunciation, especially with a Southern drawl, but gheto speech will do for the annoyance as well. Old-fashioned and ugly.
I have a friend called Bernice. I can't really say her name without going: 'Berrrr-neeeece' in a sort of country accent. Sorry, but it sounds very simple and farmer's-wife-ey.