Bethel
Girl name · #3395 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Bethel? In official American birth records, Bethel has been tracked continuously since 1890, giving it 135 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 45 baby girls were named Bethel, placing it at #3395 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2555, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 40,000 girls born in 2025 was named Bethel.
The 135-year story
Bethel first appears in the Social Security records in 1890, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1922, when 119 girls were named Bethel — good for #665 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Bethel per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Bethel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Bethel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Bethel is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Bethel will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Bethel is most common
State-level data for Bethel is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Bethel
Statistically, parents drawn to Bethel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Eveline, Adella, Evelyne, Verena, and Rubie.
EvelineAdellaEvelyneVerenaRubieMaidaJewelEulalia
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Bethel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 45 | #3389 |
| 2024 | 42 | #3639 |
| 2023 | 42 | #3640 |
| 2022 | 42 | #3653 |
| 2021 | 63 | #2715 |
| 2020 | 54 | #2966 |
| 2019 | 57 | #2891 |
| 2018 | 82 | #2238 |
| 2017 | 66 | #2635 |
| 2016 | 79 | #2366 |
| 2015 | 70 | #2555 |
| 2014 | 59 | #2888 |
| 2013 | 50 | #3218 |
| 2012 | 53 | #3134 |
| 2011 | 48 | #3350 |
| 2010 | 47 | #3409 |
| 2009 | 49 | #3361 |
| 2008 | 38 | #4089 |
| 2007 | 33 | #4475 |
| 2006 | 24 | #5545 |
| 2005 | 35 | #4029 |
| 2004 | 38 | #3748 |
| 2003 | 24 | #5092 |
| 2002 | 33 | #3889 |
| 2001 | 24 | #4834 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Bethel?
In official American birth records, the name Bethel first appeared in 1890 (over 135 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Bethel a popular girl name?
Bethel ranked #3395 among girls in 2025 with 45 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2555.
When was the name Bethel most popular?
Bethel peaked in 1922, when 119 American girls received the name (ranked #665 that year). Since 1922 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Bethel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 40,000 newborn American girls was named Bethel. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.