The Baby Name Wizard

Reader Contributions

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

Comments and insights on the name Beth: | Edit

A VERY simple name.

My full name is Elizabeth, but I've always gone by Beth. As a child, I loved my name because I was always the only Beth in my class and usually the school. I did meet a few adults named Beth growing up, but rarely (in fact, only once) did I encounter a Beth in my own age bracket. I still don't run into any Beths my age, and I like that! It's easy to spell, recognizable, and surprisingly unique. As an adult, I still love my name!

Personal experiences with the name Beth: | Edit

Everyone assumes my real name is Elizabeth or Bethany, I don't mind

Nicknames for Beth: | Edit

Betty
Betsy
Bethie
Bessie

Meanings and history of the name Beth: | Edit

Beth has roots in Elizabeth (the Anglicized version of the Hebrew name Elisheva) and Bethany (the Anglicized version of the Aramaic town Bethania). Bethany/Bethania breaks down to "beit" (house) and "ania" (dates, figs, or misery, depending on the source consulted). Elizabeth/Elisheva breaks down to "eli" (my god) and "sheva" (oath).

So Beth means "house" (from the Hebrew "beit") but you can stretch a point and decide it's derived from "sheva" and means "oath."

Famous real-life people named Beth: | Edit

Beth Ditto, singer with the indie-rock band The Gossip.
Beth Phoenix, professional wrestler.

Beth in song, story & screen: | Edit

"Beth" a ballad by Kiss
Beth March, sister of Jo, Meg, and Amy in Louisa May Alcott's novel "Little Women." She is known for her sweet, gentle, selfless temperament, and her tragic early death.
Beth, child of Noah Puckerman and Quinn Fabray on Glee.
Beth Jarrett, mother of Conrad in both the novel and film of "Ordinary People", played by Mary Tyler Moore in the movie.