Bethany
Meaning of Bethany
Bethany strolls out of the New Testament carrying the gentle meaning “house of figs” (some scholars simply say “place of welcome”) from its Hebrew roots, and that mix of sweetness and hospitality has stuck to the name ever since. In Scripture, Bethany is the hillside village where siblings Mary, Martha, and Lazarus opened their doors to Jesus—so modern parents often picture a warm porch light, a freshly baked pie, and a heart that knows when to listen. Stateside, Bethany bloomed in the late-1970s through the ’90s, landing comfortably in the Top-100, and while it now hovers in the mid-500s, it still feels familiar without being run-of-the-mill—a friendly neighbor rather than the whole neighborhood. Pop culture keeps her current, from adventurous Bethany in the Jumanji films to a sprinkling of sitcom and song cameos, giving the name just enough sparkle to balance its quietly classic core. Altogether, Bethany offers parents a soft, approachable sound—BEH-thuh-nee—paired with a story of open doors and enduring friendship.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as BEH-thuh-nee (/bɛˈθɑni/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Bethany
| Bethany Joy Lenz is an American actress and singer-songwriter best known for her role on One Tree Hill and co-hosting the Drama Queens podcast. |
| Bethany Hamilton is a professional surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack but returned to the sport and wrote the autobiography "Soul Surfer," which inspired a film. |
| Bethany Noel Mota is an American YouTuber who gained fame for her haul videos and has since launched a fashion line and appeared on Dancing with the Stars. |
| Bethany Sharayah Cosentino is an American singer-songwriter famous for the indie rock duo Best Coast and her 2023 solo debut Natural Disaster. |
| Bethany Dillon - Bethany Barnard is an acclaimed Contemporary Christian music artist known for her best-selling debut album and multiple award-nominated releases. |
| Bethany Christine Meyers is an American fitness entrepreneur who founded and leads be.come, a fitness program and mobile app. |
| Bethany Catherine Balcer is an American professional soccer striker for Racing Louisville FC in the NWSL. |
| Bethany Koby is an American designer and inventor who co-founded and led the now-insolvent company Tech Will Save Us as its CEO. |
| Bethany Charlotte Firth is a Northern Irish Paralympic swimmer who has won six gold medals, including in the 100m backstroke, for both Ireland and Great Britain in the S14 classification. |
| Bethany Lee McLean is an American journalist and Vanity Fair contributing editor renowned for her coverage of the Enron scandal and the 2008 financial crisis. |
| Bethany Yellowtail is a Native American fashion designer and CEO of B.Yellowtail, celebrated for infusing her Northern Cheyenne and Crow heritage into her creations. |
| Bethany Hall-Long - Bethany A. Hall-Long served as Delaware's governor for just two weeks in 2025, after being lieutenant governor and sponsoring over 1,000 bills, many focused on health care. |
| Bethany Charlotte Harmer is an English all-rounder cricketer currently playing for Derbyshire, having previously represented Norfolk, Essex, Lincolnshire, and The Blaze. |
| Bethany Sarah Whitmore is an Australian actress acclaimed for her lead voice role in Mary and Max and as a Heath Ledger Scholarship finalist. |
| Bethany Jean Alvord is an American lawyer and judge from Connecticut serving on the state's Appellate Court. |
