Beverley

Meaning of Beverley

Derived from an Old English toponymic compound, Beverley originates in the elements beofer, meaning “beaver,” and lēah, denoting “woodland clearing,” and was initially applied to settlements in Yorkshire and Gloucestershire before its adoption as a surname and subsequent evolution into a feminine given name in Anglo-American contexts. Phonetically transcribed as BEV-er-lee, with British (/ˈbɛvəli/) and American (/ˈbɛvərli/) pronunciations reflecting minimal variance, Beverley exemplifies the retention of medieval linguistic structures within contemporary nomenclature. Data compiled by the United States Social Security Administration reveal that the name achieved its apex of popularity during the 1960s and 1970s—consistently ranking within the top thirty female names—before entering a protracted phase of decline; by 2024, it registered a rank of 943 with only seven recorded occurrences. This statistical trajectory, when considered alongside Beverley’s etymological heritage, underscores its appeal to parents seeking a name endowed with historical resonance and precise linguistic roots.