Beth Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Beth has its origins in Hebrew, meaning 'daughter'. It evolved from the Hebrew Bat Sheva, through Aramaic to English. The name is linked to biblical narratives, particularly Bathsheba. It has a strong association with warmth and friendliness in modern culture.
The name Beth is most popular in Indiana, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Beth has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Beth' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3245th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3206th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 9270th out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 404th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 310th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 116th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 103rd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 282nd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1859th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 3709th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Beth' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Beth"
Pronunciation
/bɛθ/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
Beth is derived from the Hebrew name 'Bat Sheva', which means 'daughter of the oath'. It is often associated with the Hebrew word 'bat', meaning 'daughter'.
Meaning
daughter
Language Evolution
Hebrew: Bat Sheva, Aramaic: Beth, English: Beth
Biblical Background
Beth is often associated with the biblical figure Bathsheba, the wife of King David and mother of Solomon.
Historical Usage
Beth gained popularity as a standalone name in the English-speaking world during the 20th century, often as a diminutive of Elizabeth.
Variants & Derivatives
Bethany, Elizabeth, Liz, Betsy
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Beth is viewed as a classic and timeless name, often associated with warmth and friendliness.
Famous People
Bethenny Frankel, Beth Moore, Beth Gibbons
Explore More Beth Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Beth"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Beth"
"Beth" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 3245th of 7552 | 122 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 3206th of 10718 | 163 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 9270th of 16616 | 40 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 404th of 9107 | 4,881 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 310th of 9204 | 7,939 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 116th of 12526 | 71,325 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 103rd of 19264 | 57,339 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 282nd of 27321 | 15,376 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1859th of 35406 | 1,680 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 3709th of 30306 | 499 |
Regional Popularity of "Beth" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
60.91% 1480th/2430 |
- | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
63.82% 2223rd/3483 |
- | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Beth" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
22.32% 316th/1416 |
37.06% 511th/1379 |
32.08% 759th/2366 |
13.22% 151st/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
15.27% 236th/1546 |
19.60% 305th/1556 |
17.72% 417th/2353 |
14.54% 225th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
3.64% 81st/2227 |
3.66% 89th/2430 |
6.59% 188th/2853 |
6.23% 173rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
2.28% 67th/2937 |
1.87% 65th/3483 |
4.60% 162nd/3518 |
4.60% 186th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
4.97% 183rd/3685 |
4.67% 209th/4475 |
7.24% 376th/5194 |
8.04% 508th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
31.25% 1432nd/4582 |
29.61% 1529th/5164 |
32.04% 2343rd/7313 |
34.57% 2580th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
94.70% 3773rd/3984 |
69.91% 3137th/4487 |
72.91% 4974th/6822 |
68.51% 4300th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Beth"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Beth" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.