Beth
Beth is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Pledged to God or God is my oath.
Origin and history
Beth is a classic English short form of Elizabeth, derived from the Hebrew name Elisheba. It gained widespread popularity as an independent given name in the United States during the mid-to-late 20th century. While less common for newborns today, it remains a familiar traditional name.
Popularity in the United States
159,430 babies in the United States have been named Beth since 1880. It ranks #250 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1837.
States where it is most popular
- PA (10.5 %)
- NY (9.2 %)
- OH (9.2 %)
- IL (6.7 %)
- MI (6.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 77 |
| 1890-1900 | 240 |
| 1900-1910 | 334 |
| 1910-1920 | 2,027 |
| 1920-1930 | 3,101 |
| 1930-1940 | 3,311 |
| 1940-1950 | 8,661 |
| 1950-1960 | 33,987 |
| 1960-1970 | 58,384 |
| 1970-1980 | 28,860 |
| 1980-1990 | 15,373 |
| 1990-2000 | 3,457 |
| 2000-2010 | 942 |
| 2010-2019 | 412 |
| 2020-2029 | 264 |
Famous people named Beth
- Beth Behrs: Actress
- Beth Grant: Actress
- Beth Chapman: Television Personality, Bounty Hunter
Fun facts
- The gentle character Beth March in Louisa May Alcott's 1868 novel 'Little Women' cemented the name's place in American culture.
- Beth reached its peak popularity in the United States during the 1960s as both an independent name and a nickname.