Bethany
Bethany is a girl's name of Aramaic origin.
Meaning
House of figs or house of affliction.
Origin and history
Bethany is derived from a place name in the New Testament, originally from Aramaic roots often interpreted as 'house of figs' or 'house of affliction'. It gained popularity as a given name in the English-speaking world during the late 20th century. In the United States, it remains a well-known classical choice with historical and biblical associations.
Popularity in the United States
100,902 babies in the United States have been named Bethany since 1880. It ranks #373 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #670.
States where it is most popular
- TX (7.9 %)
- CA (7.7 %)
- OH (6.2 %)
- MI (5.5 %)
- PA (5.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 46 |
| 1920-1930 | 119 |
| 1930-1940 | 164 |
| 1940-1950 | 471 |
| 1950-1960 | 1,514 |
| 1960-1970 | 3,807 |
| 1970-1980 | 12,180 |
| 1980-1990 | 29,331 |
| 1990-2000 | 27,753 |
| 2000-2010 | 15,369 |
| 2010-2019 | 7,615 |
| 2020-2029 | 2,533 |
Famous people named Bethany
- Bethany Hamilton: Professional Surfer, Author
- Bethany Joy Lenz: Actress, Singer
- Bethany Mota: Content Creator, Entrepreneur
Nicknames
Beth, Bettie, Bethan
Fun facts
- Bethany was a village located on the slopes of the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem.
- While historically a place name, Bethany emerged as a mainstream modern given name for girls in the latter half of the 20th century.