Bethany
Girl name · #752 in 2025 · Uniqueness 66/100
Bethany is currently the #752 girl name in the United States — 362 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #415, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 4,972 girls born in 2025 was named Bethany.
Babies named Bethany per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 110-year story
Bethany first appears in the Social Security records in 1915, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1987, when 3,294 girls were named Bethany — good for #87 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Bethany against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Bethany in class?
Bethany scores 66 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Bethany is most common
Geography matters for names, and Bethany is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Bethanys were CA (48), TX (40), PA (31), OH (20), NY (18). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Bethany
Statistically, parents drawn to Bethany tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Tiffany, Brittany, Stephany, Lacey, and Casey.
TiffanyBrittanyStephanyLaceyCaseyJessicaKendraLindsey
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Bethany | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 362 | #751 |
| 2024 | 389 | #725 |
| 2023 | 390 | #720 |
| 2022 | 444 | #665 |
| 2021 | 465 | #637 |
| 2020 | 483 | #601 |
| 2019 | 550 | #552 |
| 2018 | 658 | #474 |
| 2017 | 629 | #497 |
| 2016 | 692 | #460 |
| 2015 | 770 | #415 |
| 2014 | 829 | #393 |
| 2013 | 803 | #386 |
| 2012 | 904 | #352 |
| 2011 | 915 | #350 |
| 2010 | 865 | #368 |
| 2009 | 965 | #341 |
| 2008 | 1,065 | #315 |
| 2007 | 1,168 | #291 |
| 2006 | 1,405 | #243 |
| 2005 | 1,504 | #227 |
| 2004 | 1,629 | #207 |
| 2003 | 1,619 | #204 |
| 2002 | 1,793 | #178 |
| 2001 | 2,030 | #158 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Bethany a popular girl name?
Bethany ranked #752 among girls in 2025 with 362 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #415.
When was the name Bethany most popular?
Bethany peaked in 1987, when 3,294 American girls received the name (ranked #87 that year). Since 1987 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Bethany?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 4,972 newborn American girls was named Bethany. It scores 66/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.