Mumsnet Talk

OK, immediate reactions are usually awful but say it over a few times and it grows on you.....

Reasons I like it:

- sounds unusual and a little french (dont think it is)
- I like the nn of Bea or Bunny or even Bernie (kind of cute and tomboyish, cheeky)
- it means to bring victory
- origin is Greek, so it has some classic roots (although its not the original form)
- I liked the book Bernice Bobs Her Hair by Scott Fitzgerald

What do you think?

I've tried saying it a few times but I'm afraid I just can't get past the Emmerdale barmaid. Sorry.

No.

Wasn't the Grandpa in Thomas and the magic railroad called Bernice?

I just googled Bernice Emmerdale - is she a horrible character? I dont think that would bother me even if she was as I dont watch it.

Haha, I have no idea what Thomas and the magic railroad is....off to google again.

It was years ago. Not horrible, just quite annoying. She's the only Bernice I've ever come across.

First thing that comes to my mind when I think of Bernice is: Bernard.

It's a clunky, unfeminine name to my ears, sorry OP.

There are so many more lovlier names for baby girls, please think of something else.

Sorry I think it's awful and doesn't sound nice at all.

It's not terrible but I don't like it personally.

To be a bit more helpful, there's a great website here:

nameberry.com/babyname/Bernice

that gives lots of links to suitable alternatives to Bernice, including the literary connection that you mentioned (if you want an alternative, that is.)

Isn't it the vicar from League of Gentlemen?
If not, that's what it reminds me of.

Just checked, yes it was.
Not a great association...

I much prefer the French name Bérénice!

No, it won't grow on me. There are names of that era which are pre-old lady and I could be persuaded to like many of them, even Beryl, Meryl, Miriam, Norah... but no not Berenice. or Bernice. She'd end up being Bernie which is just dreadful. I always felt a bit sorry for Bernies growing up and I knew a few. It was short for Bernadette, but that's another name I could say a hundred times and it would never grow on me.

It's a really nice name, but Bea and Bunny are not really nicknames of it. Bea is Beatrice and I think Bunny is just generic isn't it? Bernie is the standard nickname, which is quite pretty IMO.

Bare in mind it's quite a dated name now, which doesn't bother me tbh, but it would some. The youngest Bernice I know is in her 60s.

According to Nameberry, Bunny is a usual NN for Bernice, as is Binnie. Still doesn't make it work for me, though.

I quite like it. but I much prefer Bernadette.

Bunny is a generic nn for all B names, it's not specific to Bernice.

I've known a number of people named Bernice, and they've all used Bernie as a nn. Bunny just makes me think of Charlotte's evil MIL in SATC.

Bernie is very popular in Ireland for women in their fifties!

Funny it doesnt strike me as a senior name at all.

But no-one likes it - if one or two people really liked it, I think I would ignore everyone else but I can't saddle the poor child with something that is universally disliked.......

Bunny is a bit of a crap nn anyhow.

What about:

Juno
Sylvia
Claudia

Nope. All I get is Bernice Nolan.

Just feel like dancin'

Sorry no.......

Just makes me think of the Nolan sisters <showing my age>

So I would say 'no'.

What about Beatrice if you like Bea?

I'm not very keen on it but it's not awful. I knew a Bernice and she wasn't a very nice person. And also that barmaid Bernice on Emmerdale. So not really.

I'd prefer Berenike, or Berengaria.