Bethany Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Bethany is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Bethany?
Bethany is spelled B-E-T-H-A-N-Y. The name has 7 letters.
Bethany at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Bethany may mean “house of figs” or “house of affliction,” derived from a place name near Jerusalem.
- Origin
- Bethany is commonly associated with a biblical place name mentioned in the New Testament, identified as a village near Jerusalem.
- Pronunciation
- BETH-uh-nee · 3 syllables
Bethany Popularity in 2025
Rank#751
Recorded Births362
- Girls usage fell 26 places to #751 and recorded 27 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Bethany Mean?
Bethany may mean “house of figs” or “house of affliction,” derived from a place name near Jerusalem.
Origin: Bethany is commonly associated with a biblical place name mentioned in the New Testament, identified as a village near Jerusalem.
How Do You Pronounce Bethany?
PronunciationBETH-uh-nee
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Bethany?
- History
- The name Bethany has been used in Christian tradition primarily as a place name and later adopted as a given name in various cultures.
Bethany Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2003 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 362 | #751 |
| 2024 | Girls | 389 | #725 |
| 2023 | Girls | 390 | #720 |
| 2022 | Girls | 444 | #665 |
| 2021 | Girls | 465 | #637 |
| 2020 | Girls | 483 | #601 |
| 2019 | Girls | 550 | #552 |
| 2018 | Girls | 658 | #474 |
| 2017 | Girls | 629 | #497 |
| 2016 | Girls | 692 | #460 |
| 2015 | Girls | 770 | #415 |
| 2014 | Girls | 829 | #393 |
| 2013 | Girls | 803 | #386 |
| 2012 | Girls | 904 | #352 |
| 2011 | Girls | 915 | #350 |
| 2010 | Girls | 865 | #368 |
| 2009 | Girls | 965 | #341 |
| 2008 | Girls | 1,065 | #315 |
| 2007 | Girls | 1,168 | #291 |
| 2006 | Girls | 1,405 | #243 |
| 2005 | Girls | 1,504 | #227 |
| 2004 | Girls | 1,629 | #207 |
| 2004 | Boys | 8 | #8,143 |
| 2003 | Girls | 1,619 | #204 |
When Was Bethany Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1987 · Girls
3,294 recorded births
National rank #87
1988 · Girls
3,270 recorded births
National rank #89
1990 · Girls
3,238 recorded births
National rank #107
1991 · Girls
3,113 recorded births
National rank #109
Where Bethany Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| PA | #349 | 31 |
| KY | #383 | 11 |
| WI | #420 | 12 |
| OH | #514 | 20 |
| IN | #542 | 12 |
| IA | #565 | 5 |
| VA | #606 | 12 |
| MO | #640 | 8 |