Beth

At a Glance

Meaning

Pet form of Elizabeth (also short for Bethany or Bethan); no fixed meaning of its own

Origin

English (hypocoristic form)

Gender

Used for both boys and girls

Pronunciation

BETHListen

Beth is a pet form of Elizabeth, and sometimes of Bethany or Bethan, so it doesn't carry a fixed meaning of its own — it's English in origin, born as a nickname rather than a standalone word. You may have heard that Beth means 'house,' but that mixes it up with the unrelated Hebrew word beth; as documented, it's simply a shortened, familiar form of those longer names.

Meaning & Origin of Beth

Meaning: Pet form of Elizabeth (also short for Bethany or Bethan); no fixed meaning of its own.

Origin: English (hypocoristic form).

A common claim: Beth is said to mean 'house' (from Hebrew) or is just short for Elizabeth Actually: The 'house' gloss confuses Beth with the unrelated Hebrew word/letter beth ('house'); as documented, Beth is a pet form of Elizabeth, Bethany, or Bethan, not a direct translation of 'house.'

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Beth

Popularity of Beth

Beth peaked at #65 in 1961, when 6,716 baby girls were given the name, but by 2024 it had fallen all the way to #3046 with just 53 babies, a steep decline across SSA records that stretch back to 1884.

Names Like Beth

These names have followed a similar path to Beth in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Indira
• Johannes
• Evette
• Laurie
• Claudio
• Dewayne

FAQ

What does the name Beth mean?

Pet form of Elizabeth (also short for Bethany or Bethan); no fixed meaning of its own. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Beth?

Beth is pronounced BETH (IPA: /bɛθ/).

Is Beth a popular name right now?

Beth peaked at #65 in 1961 and is ranked #3046 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1884–2024.)

Make Beth Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Beth, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.