Bourne is a proper noun and surname used as a place-name or family name; it is also the historical past participle of the verb to burn (as in “born”), appearing in phrases like “born of” or in references to notable figures with the surname Bourne. In most modern usage, it is pronounced as a single syllable, rhyming with born, and functions primarily as a name rather than a common noun. Its pronunciation is stable across contexts, with emphasis typically on the name itself when used as a proper noun.
Full pronunciation guide
