Bethany

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ORIGIN AND HISTORY

The name Bethany comes from the Hebrew name "beth te'ena," with "beth" meaning "the house" and "te'ena" meaning "the fig."^[1]

In the Bible, Bethany is the name of a village located approximately two miles from the city of Jerusalem on the slope of the Mount of Olives. Bethany was the site of many events of the New Testament, such as when Jesus healed Simon the Leper, when He raised Lazarus from the dead, and when His feet were anointed with expensive perfume.^[1] It is also the place where preparations were made for Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem the week before His crucifixion.^[1]

POPULARITY

Although its popularity is gradually waning, the name Bethany has ranked in the top 1000 names for girls since 1949. According to the Social Security Administration, from 1983 through 1988 it ranked in the top 100 names for girls.^[1] It's especially popular in Christian societies, ranking in the top 50 names for girls in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.^[1] It is also a favorite name of Roman Catholics, used in honor of Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus.^[1]

• 2007: Rank = 292
• 2006: Rank = 244
• 2005: Rank = 227
• 2004: Rank = 207
• 2003: Rank = 205
• 2002: Rank = 178
• 2001: Rank = 158
• 2000: Rank = 151
• 1999: Rank = 140

FACTS

Seventeen states in the United States feature a city named Bethany: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

NAMESAKES

• Bethany - character in the film Perfect Stranger
• Bethany Sloane - character in the film Dogma
• Bethany Cabe - character in Marvel Comics
• Bethany Platt - character on the British soap opera Coronation Street

FAMOUS PERSONS

• Bethany Donaphin (b. 1980) - WNBA professional basketball player
• Bethany Joy Galeotti (b. 1981) - American singer/songwriter, musician, and actress
• Bethany Dillon (1988) - Contemporary Christian music artist

NOTES

OTHER BETHANY'S

Bethany Smith, Bethany Johnson, Bethany Williams, Bethany Jones, Bethany Brown, Bethany Davis, Bethany Miller, Bethany Wilson, Bethany Moore, Bethany Taylor, Bethany Aaker, Bethany Aalsma, Bethany Aaronson, Bethany Aarts, Bethany Abar, Bethany Abate, Bethany Abbatacola, Bethany Abbate, Bethany Abbatiello, Bethany Abbott, Bethany Abe, Bethany Abear, Bethany Abel, Bethany Abell, Bethany Abeln, Bethany Abelson, Bethany Aber, Bethany Abercrombie, Bethany Abernathy, Bethany Abernethy, Bethany Abgrab, Bethany Abington, Bethany Abney, Bethany Aboyoun, Bethany Abraham, Bethany Abrams, Bethany Abramson, Bethany Abron, Bethany Absec, Bethany Absher, Bethany Abston, Bethany Accurso, Bethany Ace, Bethany Acey, Bethany Achberger, Bethany Acheson, Bethany Achille, Bethany Achter, Bethany Ackerman, Bethany Ackerson, More results

Author: Samantha Bell