Total births
3,128
Girls' name · since 1888
Bernardine
Since 1888, U.S. Social Security records show 3,128 babies named Bernardine, peaking in 1925. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 3,128
- total births
- 1888–1978
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 23%
- born in that decade
Bernardine is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 3,128 have been recorded since 1888.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Bernardine has been recorded 3,128 times among girls since 1888, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1920s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1888 to 1978.
- 3,128 total births
- 1888–1978 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 23% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
3,128 girls have been named Bernardine since 1888, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1978.
- 3,128
- total births
- 1888–1978
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 23%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
23% of everyone ever named Bernardine was born in this single decade.
1925
Single peak year
85 babies were named Bernardine in 1925 - its busiest year on record.
Bernardine's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Bernardine's SSA record in two at 1934 and the more recent half accounts for 46% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 54%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1888, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1925 peak of 85, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Bernardine at a glance
Last recorded 1978Peak year
1925
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1888
Bernardine popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1888–1978
- Peak year (1925)
- 85
- Annual births at peak, across 91 years of records
Bernardine by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Bernardine's strongest decade.
712 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 23% of all-time use.
Bernardine births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 5
1880s
5 births
- 1890s 74
1890s
74 births
- 1900s 128
1900s
128 births
- 1910s
1910s
475 births
- 1920s
1920s
712 births
- 1930s
1930s
622 births
- 1940s
1940s
543 births
- 1950s
1950s
333 births
- 1960s 187
1960s
187 births
- 1970s 49
1970s
49 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 712 births (23% of all-time use).
How Bernardine compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Bernardine's total volume
Bernardine vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Bernardine by state
Where Bernardine concentrates geographically, total births since 1888
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Pennsylvania | | 462 | 14.8% |
| #2 | Illinois | | 182 | 5.8% |
| #3 | New York | | 148 | 4.7% |
| #4 | Wisconsin | | 65 | 2.1% |
| #5 | Michigan | | 56 | 1.8% |
| #6 | Maryland | | 48 | 1.5% |
| #7 | California | | 43 | 1.4% |
| #8 | Massachusetts | | 27 | 0.9% |
Pennsylvania share of Bernardine's total US births 14.8%
Even split
462 of 3,128 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 14 reporting states.
Bernardine appears in 14 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Bernardine? ▼
Since 1888, Social Security records show 3,128 babies named Bernardine. The most recent recorded year was 1978. Its busiest year on record was 1925, with 85 births.
When was Bernardine most popular? ▼
Bernardine was most popular in the 1920s decade with 712 total births. The single peak year was 1925.
Where is Bernardine most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Bernardine are Pennsylvania (462 births), Illinois (182 births), New York (148 births).
How long has the name Bernardine been used? ▼
Bernardine has been recorded in Social Security data since 1888, spanning 91 years of data through 1978.
What names are similar to Bernardine? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Bertha, Bernice, Bernadette, Bernadine, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Bernardine's data
- Bernardine's decade-level peak was the 1920s (712 total births); usage has since declined to 49 in the 1970s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Pennsylvania records the most Bernardines (462 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Pennsylvania names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Bernardine
Nearby Names Like Bernardine
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Bernardine
Bertha Girl
#4669 207,870 births
Bernice Girl
#3823 182,130 births
Bernadette Girl
#1242 54,973 births
Bernadine Girl
#15327 21,933 births
Bertie Girl
#7594 13,736 births
Compare Bernardine side by side: Bernardine vs Bertha Bernardine vs Bernice Bernardine vs Bernadette
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1888–1978 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Bernardine: Baby Name Since 1888 - 3,128 Births, Peak 1925." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/bernardine. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Bernardine draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.