Latinized form of
Βερενικη (Berenike), the Macedonian form of the Greek name
Φερενικη (Pherenike), which meant "bringing victory" from
φερω (phero) "to bring" and
νικη (nike) "victory". This name was common among the Ptolemy ruling family of Egypt, a dynasty which was originally from Macedon. It occurs briefly in Acts in the New Testament (in most English Bibles it is spelled
Bernice) belonging to a sister of King Herod Agrippa II. As an English name,
Berenice came into use after the Protestant Reformation.