Bernie

• (male): From Bernard +‎ -ie.
• (female): From Bernadette +‎ -ie or Bernice +‎ -ie.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈbɝni/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)ni

Bernie

1. A diminutive of the male given name Bernard, also used as a formal given name.
   • 1992 Thomas Keneally, Woman of the Inner Sea, Plume (1994), →ISBN, pages 18-19:

     A similar arrangement was made for her son Bernard, named in honor of the great Carthusian mystic (at least, that is what Jim Gaffney would softly tell Mrs. Kozinski) and of Bernie Astor, the publicist.

2. A diminutive of the female given names Bernice or Bernadette.
   • 1864 Mary Andrews Denison, Out of Prison, Graves and Young (1864), pages 21-22:

     To catch a nearer view of the coming ship, now much larger than the mere speck it had at first appeared, little Bernice, or Bernie, as she was most lovingly called at home, had moved far in advance of her mother, till now she stood quite near to the edge of the wharf.

• Beirne, berine