Bernie
A unisex given name. A diminutive of the male given name Bernard, also used as a formal given name.
Every Bernie since 1880 — 10,760 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Bernie
Bernie is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #8,352 in 2025 with 9 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 10,760 American babies have been named Bernie — about 86% boys and 14% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1960, when 266 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1960s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Bernie stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Bernie year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 9 | #8,352 |
| 2024 | — | — | 17 | #5,465 |
| 2023 | — | — | 9 | #8,343 |
| 2022 | — | — | 13 | #6,530 |
| 2021 | — | — | 18 | #5,137 |
| 2020 | — | — | 17 | #5,270 |
| 2019 | — | — | 6 | #10,964 |
| 2018 | — | — | 9 | #8,246 |
| 2017 | — | — | 9 | #8,234 |
| 2016 | — | — | 21 | #4,641 |
| 2015 | — | — | 11 | #7,125 |
| 2014 | — | — | 6 | #10,875 |
| 2013 | — | — | 11 | #7,088 |
| 2012 | — | — | 9 | #8,232 |
| 2011 | — | — | 12 | #6,632 |
| 2010 | — | — | 19 | #4,863 |
| 2009 | — | — | 20 | #4,768 |
| 2008 | — | — | 21 | #4,557 |
| 2007 | — | — | 11 | #7,152 |
| 2006 | — | — | 25 | #3,900 |
| 2005 | — | — | 30 | #3,323 |
| 2004 | — | — | 26 | #3,544 |
| 2003 | — | — | 29 | #3,200 |
| 2002 | — | — | 21 | #3,925 |
| 2001 | — | — | 20 | #3,984 |
| 2000 | — | — | 21 | #3,781 |
| 1995 | — | — | 21 | #3,203 |
| 1990 | — | — | 33 | #2,175 |
| 1985 | — | — | 43 | #1,526 |
| 1980 | — | — | 45 | #1,412 |
| 1975 | 8 | #6,547 | 60 | #1,084 |
| 1970 | — | — | 87 | #861 |
| 1965 | 12 | #3,758 | 119 | #681 |
| 1960 | 35 | #1,929 | 231 | #522 |
| 1955 | 25 | #2,159 | 133 | #645 |
| 1950 | 22 | #2,056 | 127 | #607 |
| 1945 | 30 | #1,484 | 128 | #527 |
| 1940 | 22 | #1,688 | 116 | #547 |
| 1935 | 33 | #1,246 | 135 | #490 |
| 1930 | 21 | #1,756 | 99 | #618 |
| 1925 | 32 | #1,447 | 101 | #630 |
| 1920 | 20 | #1,960 | 90 | #674 |
| 1915 | 23 | #1,526 | 75 | #671 |
| 1910 | 10 | #1,531 | 22 | #625 |
| 1905 | 9 | #1,312 | 18 | #549 |
| 1900 | 11 | #1,172 | 19 | #558 |
| 1895 | — | — | 14 | #558 |
| 1890 | 6 | #1,227 | 13 | #538 |
| 1885 | — | — | 5 | #950 |
| 1880 | — | — | 5 | #926 |
Famous people named Bernie
- Bernie Sanders Politician · b. 1941
- Bernie Ecclestone Businessperson · b. 1930
- Bernie Madoff Mafioso · b. 1938
- Bernie Taupin Musician · b. 1950
- Bernie Mac Comedian · 1957–2008
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Bernie mean?
A unisex given name. A diminutive of the male given name Bernard, also used as a formal given name.
How popular is the name Bernie in 2025?
Bernie ranked #8,352 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 9 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Bernie?
10,760 babies have been named Bernie in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Bernie most popular?
Bernie peaked in 1960, when 266 newborns received the name.
Is Bernie a boy or girl name?
Bernie is used for both: about 14% of babies named Bernie have been girls and 86% boys.
Is the name Bernie rising or falling?
Bernie is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Bernie?
Well-known people named Bernie include Bernie Sanders (politician), Bernie Ecclestone (businessperson), Bernie Madoff (mafioso).