Where does “Bernice” come from?
Bernice is an English name derived from Ancient Greek Βερενίκη, combining Ancient Greek φέρω meaning "to carry" with a suffix, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰer-.
Ancestry of “Bernice”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | Berenice | — |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | Βερενίκη | a city in Lybia; bringer of victory |
| 3 | Ancient Macedonian | Βερενῑ́κη | — |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | φέρω | I bring, bear, carry |
| 5 | Proto-Hellenic | pʰérō | to bear |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰéreti | to be carrying |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰēr- | shiny, light brown |