Bethlehem

A girl's name of Hebrew origin with 463 recorded U.S. births.

Girl's name#9631 in 2024Rising fast

Meaning & Origin

A city in the West Bank, Palestine, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus.

Bethlehem is a girl's baby name of Hebrew origin, from the Hebrew Beit Leḥem, meaning 'house of bread' or 'house of meat' — the ancient city in the West Bank, believed to be the birthplace of both King David and Jesus of Nazareth. With over 460 births, Bethlehem is used in Ethiopian Christian communities (where the city holds central importance in Orthodox practice) and by deeply devout families who wish to honor the birthplace of the Messiah.

EtymologyShow more

Bethlehem appeared in SSA records in 1985, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly began breaking from generational naming patterns, experimenting with spelling, and treating naming as a form of creative self-expression. Its Hebrew roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.

With only 463 recorded births, Bethlehem has not been widely studied in naming literature — its story belongs primarily to the families who chose it.

At a Glance

463

Total births

Since 1985

2015

Peak

24 births

1985

First recorded

40 years of data

Compare Bethlehem with another name

Popularity Over Time

Bethlehem was #6262 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #9631, but its charm endures.

First appeared: 1985Peak: 2015 (24 births)Current: #9631

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Bethlehem
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	46	#10770	▼
2010s	160	#7594	▲
2000s	148	#7788	▲
1990s	96	#8526	▲
1980s	13	#9840	—

The Story of Bethlehem

A Gen Alpha name

Peaking in 2015, Bethlehem is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Bethlehem are most likely born between 2005 and 2024.

How rare is Bethlehem?

Only about 1 in every 360,000 babies born in 2024 was named Bethlehem — a truly uncommon choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1985, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2010s with 160 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.

Bethlehem by the numbers

Would fill 10 school buses
Meeting one Bethlehem per day would take 1.3 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(36 years, 1985–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Bethlehem
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	10	#9631	+4 (66.7%)
2023	6	#13710	-1 (-14.3%)
2022	7	#12443	-7 (-50.0%)
2021	14	#7687	+5 (55.6%)
2020	9	#10378	-8 (-47.1%)
2019	17	#6751	+3 (21.4%)
2018	14	#7817	-5 (-26.3%)
2017	19	#6330	+8 (72.7%)
2016	11	#9514	-13 (-54.2%)
2015	24	#5490	+11 (84.6%)
2014	13	#8553	-4 (-23.5%)
2013	17	#7102	+2 (13.3%)
2012	15	#7869	+4 (36.4%)
2011	11	#9828	-8 (-42.1%)
2010	19	#6687	+4 (26.7%)
2009	15	#8120	-2 (-11.8%)
2008	17	#7468	+1 (6.3%)
2007	16	#7786	-1 (-5.9%)
2006	17	#7198	+4 (30.8%)
2005	13	#8411	-6 (-31.6%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bethlehem a boy's or girl's name?

Bethlehem is primarily a girl's name.

When was Bethlehem most popular?

Bethlehem reached its peak popularity in 2015 with 24 births that year. It is currently ranked #9631 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Bethlehem?

Bethlehem is currently ranked #9631 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 463 babies since 1985.

Explore More

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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1985–2024