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Berel

♂ Boy

Pronounced BEH-rel /ˈbɛ.rɛl/Medium

Meaning: A Yiddish diminutive of Ber, 'a bear' (the Yiddish counterpart of the Hebrew Dov, 'bear')Low

In 30 seconds: A bear: Berel is a Yiddish form of Ber. Crisp, classic, and warm (said 'BEH-rel').

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Origin LowYiddish

MeaningA Yiddish diminutive of Ber, 'a bear' (the Yiddish counterpart of the Hebrew Dov, 'bear')

U.S. rank (2025)#6501 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births13 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2016

Total births (all-time)≈ 194

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Berel is a Yiddish diminutive of Ber, 'a bear' (the Yiddish counterpart of the Hebrew Dov, 'bear'). A crisp, classic name common in Orthodox Jewish families (said 'BEH-rel'; nickname Ber).

In the U.S. it appears in Jewish families. Rare, a-bear at the root, and classic.

Did you know? Ber means 'a bear' in Yiddish (the counterpart of the Hebrew Dov) — Berel is a homey diminutive, crisp and classic (said 'BEH-rel').

Overall data confidence 44%

References — Berel — Yiddish etymology

Variations

BerlBerellBer

Nicknames

Ber

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Berel…

Dov— the Hebrew 'bear' name

Mendel— a sound-neighbor Yiddish -el boys' name

Hershel— a fellow Yiddish choice

Cheskel— shares Berel's Yiddish roots

Michoel— echoes that soft -el sound

Explore names like Berel

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Berel mean?

Berel is a Yiddish diminutive of Ber — 'a bear' (the counterpart of Hebrew Dov).

How do you pronounce Berel?

It's said BEH-rel /ˈbɛ.rɛl/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Berel a boy or girl name?

Berel is a boy's name.

How popular is Berel?

Berel is a rare name in the U.S.