Beth
Say it: BETH/bɛθ/
GirlMeans a short form of Elizabeth or Bethany4 letters1 syllable
#266
in Ireland (2025)
#267 with spellings combined
16
babies in 2025
#124
best rank (2011)
847
babies since 1987
Down 140
10-year rank change
Beth through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | #267 |
| 2024 | 25 | #181 |
| 2023 | 20 | #212 |
| 2022 | 34 | #153 |
| 2021 | 28 | #174 |
| 2020 | 30 | #160 |
| 2019 | 33 | #160 |
| 2018 | 38 | #149 |
| 2017 | 35 | #158 |
| 2016 | 28 | #185 |
| 2015 | 50 | #127 |
| 2014 | 41 | #142 |
| 2013 | 42 | #141 |
| 2012 | 37 | #157 |
| 2011 | 52 | #124 |
| 2010 | 33 | #184 |
| 2009 | 31 | #193 |
| 2008 | 26 | #212 |
| 2007 | 34 | #174 |
| 2006 | 32 | #159 |
| 2005 | 27 | #166 |
| 2004 | 16 | #235 |
| 2003 | 19 | #200 |
| 2002 | 22 | #176 |
| 2001 | 23 | #173 |
| 2000 | 11 | #269 |
| 1999 | 17 | #206 |
| 1998 | 10 | #252 |
| 1997 | 7 | #363 |
| 1996 | 6 | #393 |
| 1995 | 4 | #451 |
| 1994 | 13 | #255 |
| 1990 | 4 | #446 |
| 1987 | 3 | #488 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Beth mean?
A short form of Elizabeth or Bethany
English, a short form of Elizabeth, and sometimes of Bethany.
Say it right
BETH
The story of Beth
Beth is a short form of Elizabeth, and sometimes of Bethany or similar names. Elizabeth goes back to the Hebrew Elisheba, usually explained as “my God is an oath”. Beth has long been used on its own, and one of the four sisters in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women is Beth March.
Beth first appears in the CSO records in 1987. It grew through the 1990s and 2000s and had its best year in 2011, when 52 girls were named Beth and it reached number 124. In 2025 there were 16.
It has been more popular in Northern Ireland, where it reached number 40 in 2000.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Beth (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Beth (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland, full name list 1997-2025
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Beth | 16 | 847 |
In Northern Ireland
#140 in 2025 with 14 babies. Best rank #40 (2000); 924 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.