Beatrice

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Beatrice

Gender: Feminine.
Language: English.
Etymology:
Beatrice is modern English form of a Latin name. It originally meant “She Who Brings Happiness,” from “beatus” (blessed) and the Greek name Viatrix, feminine form of Viator (“voyager”).

History:
Although there was a St. Beatrix in the 4th century, and Beatrice was used during the 12th and 13th centuries, it became rather unpopular during the 17th century. After years of being only a literary name (in Dante, Shakespeare,Thackery), it was strongly revived in the 19th century.

Pronunciation: BEE-triss.

Diminuitves: Bea, Beah, Beatie, Beattie, Trixie.
German: Beate.
Italian: Bice.

Alternates: Beatris, Veatrice.
French: Béatrice, Béatrix.
German: Beatrix.
Hawaiian: Peakalika.
Scottish: Beitiris.
Spanish: Beatrisa, Beatriz.
Welsh: Betrys.

Surnames:
English: Beatson.

See also: Bea, Beatrix.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Beatrice Grimshaw (1871-1953)
Irish writer.
Beatrice Wood (1893-1998)
American ceramicist.

Fictional Characters:
Beatrice “Beezus” Quimby
A character in a series of books by Beverly Cleary.

Miscellaneous:
Beatrice Cenci (1577-1599)
Young Roman noblewoman who was executed (with her brother and step-mother) for killing her abusive father.

Singers and Entertainers:
Beatrice Lillie (1894-1989)
Canadian actress.
Bea(trice) Arthur (1923-)
American actress.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.130 % named Beatrice
0.018 % named Beatriz
0.003 % named Bea
0.001 % named Beatris

Popularity of Beatrice:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 767th most popular.
1875: 236th most popular.
1900-1910: 44th most popular.
1910-1920: 38th most popular.
1920-1930: 54th most popular.
1930-1940: 108th most popular.
1940-1950: 159th most popular.
1950-1960: 257th most popular.
1960-1970: 377th most popular.
1970-1980: 547th most popular.
1980-1990: 643rd most popular.
1990: 707th most popular.
1991: 703rd most popular.
1992: 739th most popular.
1993: 770th most popular.
1994: 861st most popular.
1995: 929th most popular.
1996: 902nd most popular.
1997: 999th most popular.
1998: 964th most popular.
1999: N/A
2000: 964th most popular.
2001: 982nd most popular.
2002: N/A

In France...
1900-: N/A
1875: 236th most popular.

Popularity of Beatriz:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1920: N/A
1920-1930: 804th most popular.
1930-1940: 880th most popular.
1940-1950: 910th most popular.
1950-1960: 868th most popular.
1960-1970: 688th most popular.
1970-1980: 573rd most popular.
1980-1990: 622nd most popular.
1990: 369th most popular.
1991: 411th most popular.
1992: 409th most popular.
1993: 402nd most popular.
1994: 485th most popular.
1995: 516th most popular.
1996: 559th most popular.
1997: 608th most popular.
1998: 663rd most popular.
1999: 632nd most popular.
2000: 663rd most popular.
2001: 714th most popular.
2002: 851st most popular.
2003: 921st most popular.