This post contains affiliate links.
At a Glance: Name: Bethany – Meaning: biblical place name of disputed origin – popularly 'house of figs,' though some trace it to an Aramaic phrase for 'house of affliction' – Origin: Hebrew/Aramaic (biblical place name, disputed etymology) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: BETH-uh-nee
Bethany is a biblical place name with Hebrew and Aramaic roots, pronounced BETH-uh-nee. You'll often see it translated as ‘house of figs,’ but that origin is disputed — some trace the name instead to an Aramaic phrase closer to ‘house of affliction’ or ‘house of the poor.’ So if the fig meaning is what drew you to it, it's worth knowing the etymology isn't actually settled.
Meaning & Origin of Bethany
Meaning: Biblical place name of disputed origin – popularly 'house of figs,' though some trace it to an aramaic phrase for 'house of affliction'.
Origin: Hebrew/Aramaic (biblical place name, disputed etymology).
A common claim: Bethany means 'house of figs' Actually: Bethany's origin as a biblical place name is disputed. 'House of figs' is the popular gloss, but some scholars trace it instead to an Aramaic phrase meaning 'house of affliction' or 'house of the poor.'
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Bethany
Phonetic: BETH-uh-nee IPA: /ˈbɛθəni/
Popularity of Bethany
Bethany peaked at #87 in 1987, when 3,294 girls were given the name; by 2024 it had fallen to #727, with just 386 babies named Bethany that year.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1915–2024.
Make Bethany Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Bethany, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Bethany mean?
Biblical place name of disputed origin – popularly ‘house of figs,’ though some trace it to an aramaic phrase for ‘house of affliction’. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Bethany)
How do you pronounce Bethany?
Bethany is pronounced BETH-uh-nee (IPA: /ˈbɛθəni/).
Is Bethany a popular name right now?
Bethany peaked at #87 in 1987 and is ranked #727 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1915–2024.)
📊 How popular is Bethany? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
🎲 Think you know your baby names? Take the quiz!
🎨 Get Printable Name Art for Bethany
Beautiful nursery-ready 8×10" print with name & meaning
Preview & Download →More Baby Name Inspiration
📱 The Baby Names app is here
Swipe names, match with your partner the moment you both say yes, and claim a free Name Art print of your winner. Free to download. See all our apps →
