The first name Bethan
A girl’s name from Aramaic meaning “house of wretchedness”.
Pronounced /bɛθən/ 2 syllables Female
Meaning and origin
Aramaic origin
Bethan means “house of wretchedness” in Aramaic.
Shortened form of Bethany, from Ancient Greek Βηθανία (Bēthanía), from Aramaic בית עניא (beth anya, “house of wretchedness”).
A form of Bethany.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 11 girls were named Bethan, making it the 2,440th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 825 births (#72).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Bethan with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Bethan at birth, 1880–2025
In 2012, 5 girls born in the United States were named Bethan, the 17,309th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1988, when 9 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Bethan
2 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Bethan WrightEnglish actress and model, born 1996
- Lucie JonesBritish singer, born 1991
Questions
- What does the name Bethan mean?
- Bethan means “house of wretchedness” in Aramaic.
- What is the origin of the name Bethan?
- Shortened form of Bethany, from Ancient Greek Βηθανία (Bēthanía), from Aramaic בית עניא (beth anya, “house of wretchedness”).
- How popular is the name Bethan?
- In 2025, 11 girls born in England and Wales were named Bethan, ranking 2,440th. Its peak was 1996, with 825 births.
- When was Bethan most popular?
- 1988 in the United States, when 9 babies were named Bethan, its highest rank at 7,758th.
- How do you pronounce Bethan?
- Bethan is /bɛθən/, 2 syllables.
- What name is Bethan a form of?
- Bethan is a form of Bethany.