Bethel
Every Bethel since 1890 — 6,237 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Bethel
Bethel is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #3,406 in 2025 with 45 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1890, 6,237 American babies have been named Bethel — about 84% girls and 16% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1922, when 150 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1920s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Bethel stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Bethel year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 45 | #3,406 | 6 | #10,867 |
| 2024 | 42 | #3,652 | — | — |
| 2023 | 42 | #3,646 | — | — |
| 2022 | 42 | #3,659 | 5 | #12,602 |
| 2021 | 63 | #2,726 | — | — |
| 2020 | 54 | #2,976 | 6 | #10,774 |
| 2019 | 57 | #2,896 | — | — |
| 2018 | 82 | #2,244 | — | — |
| 2017 | 66 | #2,637 | — | — |
| 2016 | 79 | #2,366 | 9 | #8,227 |
| 2015 | 70 | #2,561 | — | — |
| 2014 | 59 | #2,894 | — | — |
| 2013 | 50 | #3,226 | 6 | #10,905 |
| 2012 | 53 | #3,136 | 5 | #12,505 |
| 2011 | 48 | #3,360 | — | — |
| 2010 | 47 | #3,421 | — | — |
| 2009 | 49 | #3,372 | — | — |
| 2008 | 38 | #4,103 | — | — |
| 2007 | 33 | #4,488 | — | — |
| 2006 | 24 | #5,573 | — | — |
| 2005 | 35 | #4,041 | — | — |
| 2004 | 38 | #3,755 | 7 | #9,048 |
| 2003 | 24 | #5,110 | — | — |
| 2002 | 33 | #3,901 | — | — |
| 2001 | 24 | #4,856 | — | — |
| 2000 | 26 | #4,545 | — | — |
| 1995 | — | — | — | — |
| 1990 | 10 | #7,940 | — | — |
| 1985 | 11 | #6,064 | — | — |
| 1980 | 17 | #4,343 | — | — |
| 1975 | 15 | #4,162 | 6 | #4,855 |
| 1970 | 15 | #3,886 | 5 | #4,795 |
| 1965 | 19 | #2,844 | 6 | #3,575 |
| 1960 | 23 | #2,519 | — | — |
| 1955 | 26 | #2,112 | 9 | #2,785 |
| 1950 | 34 | #1,603 | 14 | #2,037 |
| 1945 | 31 | #1,453 | 10 | #2,262 |
| 1940 | 52 | #990 | 20 | #1,524 |
| 1935 | 62 | #874 | 14 | #1,936 |
| 1930 | 62 | #927 | 36 | #1,174 |
| 1925 | 93 | #768 | 32 | #1,282 |
| 1920 | 104 | #711 | 25 | #1,509 |
| 1915 | 96 | #669 | 22 | #1,465 |
| 1910 | 40 | #672 | — | — |
| 1905 | 25 | #718 | 7 | #1,012 |
| 1900 | 30 | #640 | 5 | #1,333 |
| 1895 | 14 | #864 | — | — |
| 1890 | 6 | #1,229 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Bethel in 2025?
Bethel ranked #3,406 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 45 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Bethel?
6,237 babies have been named Bethel in the United States since 1890, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Bethel most popular?
Bethel peaked in 1922, when 150 newborns received the name.
Is Bethel a boy or girl name?
Bethel is used for both: about 84% of babies named Bethel have been girls and 16% boys.
Is the name Bethel rising or falling?
Bethel is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.