Girl · #4,434 in 2026

Bethal

Bethal is a farming town in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The farms in the region produce maize, sunflower seeds, sorghum, rye and potatoes. The town lies 155 km (96 mi) east of Johannesburg on the N17 national route.

Current Rank
#4,434
Peak Rank
#4,434 (1924)
Total Babies
6
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1924
First Year
1924
Last Year
1924
Peak Year
#4434
Peak Rank
6
Total Count
1
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Bethal

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Bethal is a farming town in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The farms in the region produce maize, sunflower seeds, sorghum, rye and potatoes. The town lies 155 km (96 mi) east of Johannesburg on the N17 national route.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
The town originated on an old farm called Blesbokspruit . The town, established in on 12 October 1880, was named after the combined names of the wives of the owners of the farm, Eliza beth du Plooy and Al ida Naude. It became a municipality in 1921.

The Story of Bethal

Bethal first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1924, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1924, when 6 Bethals were born — ranking #4,434 that year. As of 2026, Bethal ranks #4,434 for baby girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 6 Bethals have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1920s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Notable people named Bethal

A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.

  • Andries Coetzee – South Africa national rugby team player
  • Llewellyn Herbert – 2000 Summer Olympics 400 metres hurdles bronze medal winner
  • Basil Hirschowitz – gastroenterologist and inventor
  • Qedani Mahlangu – Gauteng MEC for Health
  • Busisiwe Mkhwebane – Public Protector of South Africa
  • Josia Thugwane – 1996 Summer Olympics marathon gold medal winner. South Africa's first black athlete to win an Olympic gold medal
  • Riaan Dempers - South African sprinter and former record holder in the 200 meters

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Names that sound like Bethal

Phonetically similar names — useful when Bethal is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Bethel
  • Bethell
  • Bothell
  • Bootheel
  • Bethrall
  • Befall
  • Befoul
  • Bacall
  • Bohol
  • Bicol
  • Bezel
  • Bezzle

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bethal

What does the name Bethal mean?
Bethal is a farming town in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The farms in the region produce maize, sunflower seeds, sorghum, rye and potatoes. The town lies 155 km (96 mi) east of Johannesburg on the N17 national route.
How popular is Bethal in 2026?
In 2026, Bethal ranks #4,434 among girls' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Bethal most popular?
Bethal reached its peak popularity in 1924, ranking #4,434 that year with 6 babies given the name.
Is Bethal a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Bethal is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Bethal?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Bethal include Mag, Elizabeath, Lettye. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👧
Mag
Peak #4434
👧
Elizabeath
Peak #4434
👧
Lettye
Peak #4434
👧
Albirdia
Peak #4434
👧
Commie
Peak #4434
👧
Zelmer
Peak #4434
👧
Runelle
Peak #4434
👧
Waveline
Peak #4434

About the name Bethal

Bethal is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1924 and has accumulated 6 births in the dataset. Bethal's peak popularity came in 1924 when it ranked #4,434. Use the chart and map above to compare Bethal's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.