Rising since 2002, #6,446 for boys today.
Popularity of Berel since 1952
Babies named Berel per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2016, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Berel's real moment was 2025.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 10 |
| 1960s | 6 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 26 |
| 2010s | 83 |
| 2020s | 60 |
Meaning & origin
Berel is a Yiddish name with deep roots in Ashkenazi Jewish tradition. As a diminutive of Dov, meaning 'bear', it reflects a naming custom of attributing animal qualities or warding off evil. In the United States, Berel first appeared in Social Security records in 1952, and its use has remained extremely rare. In 2025, the name ranked 6446, with a frequency of about 1 in 131,390 births. Its peak year was also 2025, indicating a very slight recent increase. The trajectory has been rising since 2002, though from a minuscule base. Berel is almost exclusively used in Jewish communities and is not associated with any particular state. For those seeking a name with strong cultural and historical resonance, Berel offers a distinctive choice.
Berel is a Yiddish diminutive of the Hebrew name Dov, which means 'bear'. It is part of the tradition of naming children after animals to symbolically transfer the animal's qualities or to confuse evil spirits. Historically, Berel was common among Ashkenazi Jews in Eastern Europe, but its use has declined in the modern era, though it retains a niche usage among Hasidic communities and those seeking traditional Yiddish names.
Sibling names for Berel
Names that share Berel's style, for a brother or sister.
