Berenice Girl

Popularity: #920 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: beh-REN-iss //bɛˈrɛnɪs//

Origin: Greek; Latin

Meaning: Greek: bearer of victory; Latin: victorious

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Berenice has its roots in ancient Greek, derived from the name Βερενίκη (Berenikē), which itself is composed of two elements: ‘bearer’ (phero) and ‘victory’ (nike). This etymological construction reflects a common practice in ancient naming conventions, where names were often imbued with meanings that conveyed strength or triumph.

The name passed into Latin as Berenice, and subsequently into various languages, including English, primarily through historical texts and translations of classical works. Historically, Berenice was borne by several notable figures in antiquity, including Berenice I of Egypt, who lived in the 3rd century BCE and was the wife of Ptolemy I.

Her legacy continued through her descendants, with Berenice II, a queen of Egypt in the 2nd century BCE, also notable for her association with the famous constellation Coma Berenices, named in her honor. The name appears in various historical texts, including the works of Plutarch and in the context of the Ptolemaic dynasty, which was influential in the cultural and political landscape of the Hellenistic period.

Culturally, the name Berenice has been associated with themes of victory and strength, resonating through literature and art over the centuries. It has been referenced in various works, including plays and operas, which have contributed to its enduring presence in cultural memory.

The name also has diminutive forms, such as Berenice's variant, Bernice, which have been used in different contexts, further enriching its historical tapestry. The name's legacy is a testament to the ways in which names can encapsulate cultural significance and historical narratives.

Famous people named Berenice

In this section, you will find notable people named Berenice. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Berenice who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Berenice who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Berenice Abbott was a photographer best known for Changing New York, Portraits of Moderns, and her work in documentary photography.

Berenice Bejo is an actress best known for The Artist, The Past, and A Knight's Tale.

Fictional characters named Berenice

The following list of fictional characters named Berenice is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Berenice is a fictional character from the short story "Berenice" by Edgar Allan Poe. She is a woman afflicted with a mysterious illness that drives her husband to madness and obsession over her teeth.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Berenice, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

BernadetteBeatriceBiancaBridgetBlythe

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Berenice. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

BerniceBerenikaVeronicaCelestineEulaliaAnastasiaSeraphinaElowen

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Berenice was first seen in the United States in 1883.

Berenice has ranked as high as #1199 nationally, which occurred in 1995, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Illinois, Arizona, and New York.

In the past 5 years the name Berenice has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Berenice is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Berenice was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Berenice.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 28 0 28
2024 40 0 40
2023 43 0 43
2022 41 0 41
2021 47 0 47
2020 63 0 63
2019 79 0 79
2018 72 0 72
2017 91 0 91
2016 89 0 89
2015 59 0 59
2014 73 0 73
2013 102 0 102
2012 129 0 129
2011 109 0 109
2010 147 0 147
2009 228 0 228
2008 192 0 192
2007 204 0 204
2006 252 0 252
2005 235 0 235
2004 231 0 231
2003 282 0 282
2002 274 0 274
2001 308 0 308
2000 276 0 276
1999 263 0 263
1998 282 0 282
1997 236 0 236
1996 281 0 281
1995 331 5 326
1994 268 0 268
1993 306 6 300
1992 242 0 242
1991 202 0 202
1990 152 0 152
1989 164 0 164
1988 111 0 111
1987 81 0 81
1986 80 0 80
1985 71 0 71
1984 63 0 63
1983 55 0 55
1982 64 0 64
1981 51 0 51
1980 48 0 48
1979 29 0 29
1978 26 0 26
1977 38 0 38
1976 21 0 21
1975 20 0 20
1974 21 0 21
1973 9 0 9
1972 9 0 9
1970 9 0 9
1969 6 0 6
1968 6 0 6
1967 10 0 10
1966 5 0 5
1965 8 0 8
1964 7 0 7
1962 8 0 8
1961 6 0 6
1960 5 0 5
1959 7 0 7
1957 5 0 5
1956 10 0 10
1955 9 0 9
1954 12 0 12
1953 7 0 7
1952 8 0 8
1951 8 0 8
1950 12 0 12
1949 6 0 6
1948 8 0 8
1947 10 0 10
1946 9 0 9
1945 9 0 9
1944 13 0 13
1943 9 0 9
1942 10 0 10
1941 19 0 19
1940 17 0 17
1939 20 0 20
1938 11 0 11
1937 18 0 18
1936 14 0 14
1935 22 0 22
1934 17 0 17
1933 26 0 26
1932 18 0 18
1931 17 0 17
1930 27 0 27
1929 27 0 27
1928 33 0 33
1927 55 0 55
1926 49 0 49
1925 56 0 56
1924 70 0 70
1923 72 0 72
1922 51 0 51
1921 68 0 68
1920 89 0 89
1919 83 0 83
1918 89 0 89
1917 95 0 95
1916 97 0 97
1915 104 0 104
1914 54 0 54
1913 52 0 52
1912 60 0 60
1911 46 0 46
1910 32 0 32
1909 30 0 30
1908 35 0 35
1907 28 0 28
1906 26 0 26
1905 21 0 21
1904 25 0 25
1903 36 0 36
1902 29 0 29
1901 29 0 29
1900 29 0 29
1899 25 0 25
1898 37 0 37
1897 23 0 23
1896 29 0 29
1895 23 0 23
1894 23 0 23
1893 23 0 23
1892 20 0 20
1891 19 0 19
1890 9 0 9
1889 20 0 20
1887 12 0 12
1886 5 0 5
1885 7 0 7
1884 5 0 5
1883 8 0 8

Top States for Berenice (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 15
100%