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Home › Baby Names Directory › Beverly

Beverly

♀ Girl

Pronounced BEV-er-lee /ˈbɛv.ər.li/High

Meaning: Beaver stream; from Old English beofor (beaver) + leah (stream, clearing) — the original place name Beverly in YorkshireHigh

In 30 seconds: An Old English place name meaning 'beaver stream,' derived from Beverly in Yorkshire, England. Its peak in the 1930s–1950s places it firmly in the same vintage tier as Betty and Barbara.
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Origin HighEnglish
MeaningBeaver stream; from Old English beofor (beaver) + leah (stream, clearing) — the original place name Beverly in Yorkshire
U.S. rank (2025)#1018 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births246 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1953
Total births (all-time)≈ 378,559

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195318932025

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

Beverly is an Old English place name from beofor (beaver) and leah (stream or clearing). It refers to a town in Yorkshire, England, known for Beverly Minster. The surname Beverly became a given name in the 20th century, especially popular after Beverly Hills became synonymous with Hollywood glamour.

Beverly peaked in the U.S. in the 1930s–1940s and was a top-10 name in the late 1930s. It declined steadily from the 1960s onward. Ranked #1046 for girls in 2024, it is in early stages of a vintage revival.

Did you know? Beverly Hills, California, was named after Beverly Farms in Massachusetts, which itself was named after Beverly in Yorkshire, England — giving this 1920s movie-star address an ultimately Old English, beaver-related etymology.
Overall data confidence 91%
Behind the Name — Beverly — Old English etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

BeverleyBev

Nicknames

BevBevvy

Famous Bearers

  • ★Beverly Cleary (1916–2021)
    American children's author, creator of Ramona Quimby and Henry Huggins, beloved by generations of young readers.

If you like Beverly…

Shirley— three-syllable -ley place-name surname from the same 1930s–40s peak era
Betty— top-tier mid-century girl name from the same generation
Barbara— Latin-origin mid-century classic from the same era
Brenda— Norse-origin name from the same vintage tier
Helen— classical name sharing the same mid-century peak period

Explore names like Beverly

By themeenglishnatureplace-namevintagemid-century
By meaningSea / Water

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Beverly mean?

Beverly means 'beaver stream,' from Old English beofor (beaver) and leah (stream or clearing), originally a place name in Yorkshire, England.

How do you pronounce Beverly?

It's said BEV-er-lee — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Beverly a boy or girl name?

Beverly is used primarily as a girls' name.

How popular is Beverly?

Beverly ranked #1046 for U.S. girls in 2024. It was a top-10 U.S. name in the late 1930s.

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