Bethel
Bethel was an ancient Israelite city and sacred space that is frequently mentioned in the Hebrew Bible.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Bethel
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Bethel was an ancient Israelite city and sacred space that is frequently mentioned in the Hebrew Bible.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Bethel
As a girl name
American parents first put Bethel on the record books as a girl name in 1890, with 6 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1922, when 119 Bethels were born — ranking #665 that year. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #4,009 among girl names with 36 births, falling sharply (-38%). In total, more than 5K Bethels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Bethel on the record books as a boy name in 1891, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1919, when 39 Bethels were born — ranking #1,097 that year. The 1920s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 24% of all recorded Bethels. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2022 (5 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 1K Bethels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Bethel
Phonetically similar names — useful when Bethel is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Bethell
- Bothell
- Bezel
- Bezzle
- Bettle
- Betel
- Bessel
- Bekele
- Bootheel
- Buckle
- Bustle
- Bizzle
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bethel
What does the name Bethel mean?
What is the origin of the name Bethel?
How popular is Bethel in 2026?
When was Bethel most popular?
In which U.S. states is Bethel most popular?
Is Bethel a unisex name?
What names go well with Bethel?
About the name Bethel
Bethel is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1890 and has accumulated 5K births in the dataset. Bethel's peak popularity came in 1922 when it ranked #632. Use the chart and map above to compare Bethel's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1922 →
- Names of the 1920s →
- Names starting with "B" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.