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Home › Baby Names Directory › Bethlehem

Bethlehem

♀ Girl

Pronounced BETH-luh-hem /ˈbɛθ.lə.hɛm/High

Meaning: From the Hebrew Beit Lehem, 'house of bread' — the birthplace of Jesus; a sacred place-name; we note the sacred placeLow

In 30 seconds: House of bread: Bethlehem is Hebrew. Lyrical, classic, and warm. We note the sacred place.
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Origin LowHebrew
MeaningFrom the Hebrew Beit Lehem, 'house of bread' — the birthplace of Jesus; a sacred place-name; we note the sacred place
U.S. rank (2025)#10228 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births9 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2015
Total births (all-time)≈ 472

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201519852025

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

Bethlehem comes from the Hebrew Beit Lehem, 'house of bread' — the birthplace of Jesus; a sacred place-name (we note the sacred place). A lyrical, classic name (said 'BETH-luh-hem').

In the U.S. it appears in Ethiopian and Christian families. Rare, house-of-bread at the root, and lyrical.

Did you know? Bethlehem means 'house of bread' (Beit Lehem) — the birthplace of Jesus — a lyrical, devotional place-name (we note the sacred place; said 'BETH-luh-hem').
Overall data confidence 38%
References — Bethlehem — Hebrew; sacred place

Variations

BetlehemBetelhem

Nicknames

Beth

Famous Bearers

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If you like Bethlehem…

Bethel— a fellow 'house of God' place-name
Tsion— a companion sacred-place girls' name
Batsheva— a similarly popular pick
Meryem— echoes that soft -em sound
Bithiah— shares Bethlehem's Hebrew roots

Explore names like Bethlehem

By themehebrewplace-namesacred

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Bethlehem mean?

Bethlehem is Hebrew for 'house of bread' (Beit Lehem) — the birthplace of Jesus. We note the sacred place.

How do you pronounce Bethlehem?

It's said BETH-luh-hem /ˈbɛθ.lə.hɛm/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Bethlehem a boy or girl name?

Bethlehem is a girl's name (especially in Ethiopian families).

How popular is Bethlehem?

Bethlehem is a very rare name in the U.S.

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