← All names

Bethany

Girl name · 2,530 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Bethany: 2,530 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 163 births in 2000.

Originally a place name from the Aramaic *Bet Ania*, meaning “house of figs” or “house of affliction,” Bethany is the village in the New Testament where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Its gentle, biblical resonance made it a favoured choice in Scotland from the 1980s onward. Famous bearers include American surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost an arm to a shark attack yet returned to professional surfing, and actress Bethany Joy Lenz of *One Tree Hill* fame. The name has also inspired numerous towns across the United States and Australia. A familiar and enduring variant is simply Beth, which often serves as a standalone given name as well.