Bethlehem: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	–	–	–	–
1980s	13	1	–	#8,845
1990s	96	10	+638%	#6,232
2000s	148	15	+54%	#6,262
2010s	160	16	+8%	#5,491
2020s (to 2025)	55	9	-43%	#7,696

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

1970s

–

1980s

–

#8,845

1990s

+638%

#6,232

2000s

148

+54%

#6,262

2010s

160

+8%

#5,491

2020s (to 2025)

-43%

#7,696

The story of Bethlehem

Bethlehem is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #10,228 in 2025 with 9 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1985, 472 American babies have been named Bethlehem. Its peak came in 2015, when 24 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2010s.

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 Bethlehem stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Bethlehem?

The median living Bethlehem is about 17 years old; half are between 10 and 25. An estimated 500 people named Bethlehem are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Bethlehem year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	9	#10,228
2024	10	#9,667
2023	6	#13,721
2022	7	#12,449
2021	14	#7,696
2020	9	#10,386
2019	17	#6,756
2018	14	#7,821
2017	19	#6,331
2016	11	#9,515
2015	24	#5,491
2014	13	#8,555
2013	17	#7,103
2012	15	#7,872
2011	11	#9,828
2010	19	#6,688
2009	15	#8,121
2008	17	#7,470
2007	16	#7,788
2006	17	#7,198
2005	13	#8,411
2004	19	#6,262
2003	13	#8,065
2002	14	#7,493
2001	9	#10,227
2000	15	#6,850
1995	11	#7,578
1990	8	#9,342
1985	5	#10,833
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Bethlehem, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Bethlehem?

The median living Bethlehem is about 17 years old. Half of all living Bethlehems are between 10 and 25 years old.

How many people named Bethlehem are alive today?

An estimated 500 people named Bethlehem are alive in the United States, based on 472 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Bethlehem in 2025?

Bethlehem ranked #10,228 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 9 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Bethlehem?

472 babies have been named Bethlehem in the United States since 1985, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Bethlehem most popular?

Bethlehem peaked in 2015, when 24 newborns received the name.

Is Bethlehem a boy or girl name?

Bethlehem is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Bethlehem rising or falling?

Bethlehem is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Bethlehem

Bethlehem popularity over time

The story of Bethlehem

How old are people named Bethlehem?

Bethlehem year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Bethlehem