Holding steady.
Popularity of Bethaney since 1965
Babies named Bethaney per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 15 |
| 1970s | 77 |
| 1980s | 172 |
| 1990s | 220 |
| 2000s | 138 |
| 2010s | 10 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Bethaney is a modern English respelling of Bethany, first recorded in the United States in 1965. It never entered the top 1000 nationally, but reached its peak year in 1990 when it was used most frequently. Since then it has remained stable but uncommon, with an estimated 1-in-many chance of occurrence as of 2025. The name fits a broader trend of '-ey' suffix names popular in the late 20th century, alongside similar variants like Bethanie and Bethani. While not associated with any particular state, Bethaney has been used sporadically across the country, reflecting a desire for a familiar biblical name with a unique spelling.
Bethaney is a creative respelling of Bethany, a place name from the Bible (the village near Jerusalem where Lazarus was raised). The Hebrew origin is debated between bet te'enah ('house of figs') and bet hani ('house of affliction'). The variant spelling with '-ey' emerged in the mid-20th century, typical of modern English naming trends that favor unique phonetic renditions.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Beth, Annie, Betty
Sibling names for Bethaney
Names that share Bethaney's style, for a brother or sister.
