Belen

♀ Girl

Pronounced beh-LEN /bɛˈlɛn/High

Meaning: Bethlehem or house of bread; the Spanish form of Bethlehem, from the Hebrew Beit Lechem meaning house of bread, the birthplace of Jesus ChristHigh

In 30 seconds: Belen is the Spanish form of Bethlehem meaning house of bread in Hebrew, a deeply Catholic devotional name popular across Spain and Latin America honoring the birthplace of Jesus, compact and melodic in two syllables.

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Origin HighSpanish, Hebrew

MeaningBethlehem or house of bread; the Spanish form of Bethlehem, from the Hebrew Beit Lechem meaning house of bread, the birthplace of Jesus Christ

U.S. rank (2025)#785 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births345 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 12,285

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Belen is the Spanish rendering of Bethlehem, from the Hebrew Beit Lechem, meaning house of bread or house of meat. Bethlehem is mentioned in the Old Testament as the birthplace of King David and in the New Testament as the birthplace of Jesus. The Spanish form Belen is a devotional name used in Catholic countries.

Belen has been a popular girls name in Spain, Mexico, Argentina, and throughout Latin America for centuries, given in honor of the Nativity. In the United States it appears consistently in Hispanic communities and has appeared in the national top 1,000 girls names. The supermodel Belen Rodriguez brought the name additional visibility.

Did you know? In Spanish-speaking countries, a belen is also the word for a nativity scene (creche), so the name Belen evokes not only the city of Christ's birth but also the beloved Christmas tradition of displaying miniature nativity scenes that is central to Hispanic Catholic celebrations.

Overall data confidence 95%

Behind the Name — Belen — Spanish and Hebrew etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

BelemBethlehem

Nicknames

BeliBele

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Belen…

Dolores— same category of Spanish Catholic Marian devotional name

Pilar— shares the Spanish Catholic shrine-based devotional naming tradition

Concepcion— fellow Spanish religious name honoring a sacred concept or place

Lourdes— same tradition of naming girls after Catholic pilgrimage sites

Frequently Asked

What does the name Belen mean?

Belen means house of bread, as the Spanish form of Bethlehem, from the Hebrew Beit Lechem.

How do you pronounce Belen?

It is said beh-LEN, two syllables with stress on the second.

Is Belen a religious name?

Yes, Belen is a deeply Catholic devotional name honoring Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, and is widely used in Spanish-speaking Catholic communities.

Is Belen a popular name?

Belen is very popular in Spain and Latin America and appears consistently in U.S. birth records among Hispanic families.