Berniece is a unique and distinctive female given name of American origin. It was created by author Fannie Hurst for the main character in her 1924 novel "Imitation of Life." In the story, Berniece is a light-skinned African-American woman who struggles with her racial identity due to her fair complexion.
The name Berniece has no specific meaning or etymology as it was invented by Fannie Hurst. However, it is often associated with beauty and uniqueness, much like the character in the novel who stands out due to her mixed-race heritage.
Throughout history, there have been a few notable individuals named Berniece, although the name remains relatively rare. One such person is Bernice Robinson, an American civil rights activist and organizer who played a significant role in registering African-American voters in the South during the 1960s.
Despite its rarity, Berniece continues to be chosen as a given name by parents looking for something distinctive and meaningful for their daughters. The name has gained some popularity in recent years, particularly in the United States, where it is often associated with independent, strong-willed women who refuse to conform to societal expectations.
The name Berniece has been used for newborn girls in the United States for over a century, with a notable fluctuation in its popularity throughout this period.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, there was a significant increase in the number of babies named Berniece. The years 1892 to 1914 saw a steady rise in births with this name, from a low of 7 births in 1886 to a peak of 476 births in 1918. This period could be considered the height of popularity for the name Berniece.
However, after reaching its peak in 1918, the number of newborn girls named Berniece began to decline steadily throughout the remainder of the century. By the 1930s and 1940s, fewer than 200 babies per year were given this name. This downward trend continued until the 1950s, when the number of births with the name Berniece fell below 50 annually.
In recent decades, the name Berniece has been used even less frequently in the United States. Between the years 1973 and 2013, there were fewer than 10 babies named Bernice each year on average. Despite this decrease in popularity, it is still possible to find people with this unique name today.
In total, over the span of these statistics from 1886 to 2013, there have been approximately 9909 births registered as Berniece in the United States. While this number may seem impressive, it represents only a small fraction of the millions of babies born each year during this time period.
Overall, while the name Berniece has experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the years, its use continues to be a part of American naming history.