The Baby Name Wizard

Reader Contributions

Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Bethany!

Comments and insights on the name Bethany: | Edit

I read an insight that said Bethany means New Beginnings? I love that! (: I'm also Bethany haha I was born in 1992, and I also hate the nickname 'Beth'! It always seemed too old and just not suiting for me. My family calls me Bessy, which I guess is kinda similar? Haha I'm not totally sure where that came from! People always confuse me with Brittany or Destiny, which sucks because my sister's name is Brittany. Not only are our names similar but we know all the same people so there's confusion sometimes! I've never really liked my name but I wouldn't change it, especially since it's from the Bible. I've met another Bethany who was the total opposite of me, so I don't think it's the name that makes a person (:

Personal experiences with the name Bethany: | Edit

I was born almost 20 years before the "Bethany trend" that hit in the '80's (born in 1965), and never met another Bethany until I was in college. Especially over the phone, people almost always mis-hear my name as "Stephanie," "Tiffany"--and I used to have a lot of people thinking I was saying "Destiny", although that doesn't happen so much in the past couple of decades. I was called "Beth" in grade school, which I always disliked, as it only seems to rhyme with "death"--unpleasant--but in college I began to firmly request (sometimes this had to be repeated) to be called by the full name. When I first looked up the meaning in Naming Dictionaries (before "baby name books" came out), the meaning was listed as "house of sorrow," which again isn't too happy an association, although my mother simply found it in the Bible, as the place where Mary & Martha lived, where Lazarus was raised from the dead, and where Jesus ascended to heaven, so she didn't realize it might have a meaning that wasn't happy. As a young adult, I began to meet a bunch of young girls named Bethany, and I realized that the trend had probably evolved from the HUGE "Brittany"(all different spellings) trend that peaked just before these Bethany's were born--apparently people were looking for a similar name to Brittany, but not exactly the same. I always thought it was ironic, and if they knew what it meant, they probably wouldn't have chosen it. But then, when I was pregnant and considering names, I found baby name books listing the name as meaning "house of God" (which it certainly does not mean--"Bethel" means "house of God"). I guess "house of figs" is better (meaning fruitful; having plenty) than "house of sorrow," but I still would very much like to talk to someone who actually is a Hebrew scholar and knows what the real, original meaning is, since there have clearly been some very different listings in different places. I truly do believe that names, and the associations people place on them, really do shape the quality of our lives, so if you are considering this name for a baby, I would really recommend getting to the bottom of the "House of Figs"/"House of Sorrow" question. It's sad to be a teenager and discover that the label for you as a person means "House of Sorrow."

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My name is Bethany - I was born in 1982. I've always liked my name except with my last name, which is also 3 syllables, I feel like it can be a bit of a tongue twister. My family never called me Beth, always Bethy (or Bam, my initials), and I've never identified with the name Beth at all -- it might as well be an entirely different name to me, though people inevitably want to shorten it. Since Bethy sounds very young and cute-sy though, as an adult I go by my full name, w/ friends and family continuing to call me Bethy or Bam.
Growing up I was typically the only Bethany in my grade. I guess it's hard to be objective when a name is yours, but especially now that I'm older I get a lot of compliments on it, which always surprise me because I never thought much about it one way or another. The only bad connotations I can remember from when I was younger was a girl in middle-school saying it was prissy and more than one boy turned it into 'Barfany' trying to pick on me ;-) Also - people frequently think I'm saying 'Stephanie,' 'Brittany,' or 'Tiffany' - I'd say 2 out of 3 times when I introduce myself to someone I have to repeat my name a second time.
My older sister's name is Megan, and I know of at least one other Megan/Bethany set. I'm glad to see that Bethany is considered more classic - it seems to be on par with names like Caroline, Audrey, etc rather than other names that peaked in the 80's that are considered more dated. After having a name that's not unheard of but not too common, either, I think I'd like to give my kids the same kind of names -- my favorite boy's name is Owen, and my favorite girl's name is Miriam (though I graciously let my sister have it for her daughter!! ;-)

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I was also born in 1982 like the other contributor and have had the same problem with people remembering or hearing my name correctly. I would say on first meetings people usually think my name is Stephanie, but when it is a second meeting they usually call by Brittany. I still have someone at work that when they are distracted will call my Brittany.

I also never identified with Beth as a nickname. I was always Bethany and when I was with close family or friends I would be Bee. I never had anyone who really made fun of my first name but I have a last name that is very easy to make fun of and was Bethany Hiccup.

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I was born in 1991. My brother chose Owen as his kid's name! oh, and thank goodness I'm not the only one who was called barfany!

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Yay! I feel like I belong! I was born in 1987 and like previous comments, I never let people call me Beth (I feared people would think that my name was Elisabeth). I like my name but was always having to repeat it in introductions multiple times (with all the people calling me Stephanie it is surprising that I didn't eventually start believing them :)) and while I was spared being called "barfany" I was often embarrassed when I was called "Bethyboo". My close friends call me bethy and I don't mind, but professionally I will always determine to be called Bethany.
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Wow, I'm suprised how many other Bethany's don't like to be called Beth. I have always disliked the nickname Beth and much prefer my full name Bethany. My name is often confused with Brittany or Stephanie, but they do sound alike. I was always called Bethy (or Bethy-Belle) as a baby/child and now only my close family calls me that. I don't love or hate my name, but I'm okay with it. I do like that I have always been the only Bethany in my class, and I only know a handful of other Bethany's. Its a name that isn't too popular, but its not rare and it has been heard of. Oh and my middle name is Rae, and most of the other Bethany's that I know have Ann for a middle name.

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I was born in 1975, a few years before Bethany really started becoming popular. I've always liked my name, but never really thought it was different or weird, even though I didn't meet another Bethany until I was in college. Simply can't identify with "beth," it's just not my name. When I was younger I would tell people that "beth" is a 4-letter word. I also have been mistaken for a Brittany and Stephanie. Usually I tell people that Stephanie is the good twin, and I wouldn't mind Brittany's money!

Growing up I was called "bethy" and "beffers" but never Barfany, (thank goodness) eventually I became Buzzy, a nickname that sticks to this day. My niece and nephews as well as some family and the kids of my friends all call me Buzzy...even have a website: queenbuzzy.com.

Have to say, anytime I run across a "Bethany" now, I always ask if they're a TRUE Bethany, or if they're just an Elizabeth that wants to be more hip. I like being a bit unique. :) My sister's name is jennifer, but I've always called her "Furr"...she'd kill me if I even thought about calling her "Jenny!"

Buzzy and Furr...we could be crime fighters!

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I was born in 1984. I too, hated being called Beth and my parents called me Bethy. Everyone always thinks my name is Brittany, Stephanie, or Tiffany. I always wanted a more original name - one with a really interesting and rich history. My parents thought they were being original, but when I got to grade school, there were like 4 other Bethanys in my grade. It was annoying. I also feel like my parents didn't put enough thought into my name. House of Figs? I am pregnant now and researching names. I want my child to have a name that is both somewhat unique and has a rich history I can later teach them about.

My sister's name is also Jennifer. I think you should name your daughter Bethany only if you are a very devout Christian and know your child will likely also be one. I also think you should look for names that reflect your child's own heritage. It would have been very cool if my parents had chosen a name that reflected the places my ancestors came from.

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I was born in 1975 and graduated high school with three other Bethanys. In a class of 90 students. I've never liked it and hate having to either spell it or say "Bethany not Stephanie" whenever I say my name over the telephone. It's been a difficult name as a professional because it is so difficult to pronounce and easy to misunderstand. I've always thought it to be a weak sounding name as well. I wanted to comment on the Hebrew "house of figs" origin. I've never heard that before. It's been my understanding from various sources that the name is from the ancient Aramaic and means "poor house". Sorry.

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My name is of course Bethany as well, I was born in '78, but I did get Beth as I grew up. Most my family and friends just call me Beth, I never really thought too much about it, as my mum goes by her middle name instead of her first, which seems to be a thing in her family (her sister and her mum were like that too). But as for me, I had an original name (my adoptive name is Bethany) and that was Christabelle, which, no offence to my bmom, but I am glad to have Bethany as my name. I also had Bethie as a nickname, but not one that stuck, although one friend still calls me Bethie. I never knew what my name really meant until I was in my teens, I had a wall plaque that said 'Greatful Spirit' and Lametations 3:24 "I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him says my soul." printed on it, so that is what I thought it meant growing up. I really enjoy having a different name, so much so that both my girls have different names as well, and it seems as if we can't have just 'normal' names in our family. My first born is Marajade, and my second is Zion. My sisters name is Julianne, she was meant to be the Bethany of the family, but when it came to naming her my parents changed their minds and 8 years later, I got to have it. I'm glad they waited.

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This is so weird. I've never personally meet anyone else named Bethany, though plenty of people have told me, "Oh! My cousin's name is Bethany!" or "I have a friend named Bethany!" I was born in 1992. Most people call me Bethany, and sometimes my family calls me B. I'm actually named after my grandmother whose first name is Betty. My parents, however decided to modify it to Bethany, for which I am eternally grateful. 'Betty' just isn't me. I, also, am not over fond of the name Beth. I don't much like Stephanie or Brittany either, which is unfortunate, since people - especially teachers and professors - seem to continuously accidentally call me by those names. But I guess I really don't mind. I'm not one to really get annoyed at something like that. Besides annoyance with those who get my name wrong would be extremely hypocritical on my part: it took me several months to remember my neighbor's name without using a lengthy memory trick.

One great thing about less common names is that you don't often hear your name said and then turn to find the speaker was referring to someone else. A friend of mine whose name is Chris (I mean, how common can you get?) says that that is very highly annoying. It is for this reason that though I think the name Emily is very lovely, I doubt I would ever name my daughter that.

Nicknames for Bethany: | Edit

Beth
Bethie
Bethy
B
Annie
Bert
Betty
Boo
Bertha
Bet
Bess
Bessy
Beffey

Meanings and history of the name Bethany: | Edit

It is a city near Jerusalem in Israel. It is also the place that Jesus' friends Mary and Martha lived in the Bible account.

Often cited as meaning: house of figs, house of the poor, fruitful (house full of figs/fruit makes a person fruitful), house of sorrow

Famous real-life people named Bethany: | Edit

Bethany Joy Lenz - singer, and actress on One Tree Hill (Haley James Scott)
Bethany Hamilton (surfer who survived a shark attack and competes and evangelizes)
Bethenny Frankel, reality TV star

Bethany in song, story & screen: | Edit

My name is Bethany, and I love the comments about not being called Beth.
I always have to reiterate "It's BETHANY." Beth always seemed yucky to me, and like it belonged more to Elizabeth.
I've met like, 2 other Bethanys in my whole life. My parents missed the trend; I wasn't born until the early nineties.

'Dogma' lead female is named Bethany.