Burnie is of Scottish origin, derived from the Scottish surname 'Burns', which was often used as a given name in Scotland during the late Middle Ages. It is also found among other English-speaking communities worldwide. The name's popularity peaked in the early 20th century but has since declined.
"Between 1888 and 1988, the name Burnie had a peak of popularity during World War I with 26 births in 1916, but it generally saw fewer than 10 births per year throughout most of this period. The name's highest frequency was in the early 1920s, and it showed a steady decline from the late 1950s onwards, with only five births recorded in 1988."