Holding steady.
Popularity of Bethene since 1913
Babies named Bethene per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1923, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Bethene's real moment was 1929.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 30 |
| 1920s | 84 |
| 1930s | 55 |
| 1940s | 6 |
| 1950s | 30 |
| 1960s | 16 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Bethene is a rare coinage that emerged in the early 1910s, with its first recorded year being 1913. The name saw a brief period of use during the 1920s, peaking in 1929 with just 5 births according to Social Security data. It has since fallen out of regular usage, reflecting a trajectory classed as stable with no revival in later decades. Bethene is best understood as a variant of the more established names Bethany or Elizabeth, both of Hebrew origin. Given its peak in 1929 and absence from recent records, it remains a curious footnote in early 20th-century naming trends.
Bethene is a variant of Bethany, a place name from the New Testament referring to a village near Jerusalem; the name likely means "house of figs" in Hebrew. It may also be considered a diminutive of Elizabeth, which derives from the Hebrew Elisheva, meaning "God is my oath." Bethene appears to have been coined in the early 20th century, possibly as a blend or modernized form, and saw modest use in the 1920s, peaking in 1929 with 5 births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Beth, Betty, Thena
Sibling names for Bethene
Names that share Bethene's style, for a brother or sister.
