Given name & surname · also Spanish
Belen
“woman from Bethlehem”·“of an arrow”
Belen is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “woman from Bethlehem” (Spanish) and “of an arrow” (Greek). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Original GreekΜπελέν
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “woman from Bethlehem” (Spanish) and “of an arrow” (Greek). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with Spanish and Greek naming traditions.
How it developed
In Cebuano usage, Belen is a diminutive of Belinda. In Cebuano usage, Belen is a short form of Belinda.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1909. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Belen through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 12,366
- 79 boys · 12,287 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 431 babies
- 2025
- 345
- #785 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +7%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 345 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 785 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 7.2% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (77). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 13,397 as a first name in 2020; 1,812 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Belen’s family of names
In Cebuano usage, Belen is a diminutive of Belinda. Belen has a related form in Belan. In Cebuano usage, Belen is a short form of Belinda.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 9
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Belindafull form · ceb
- Bellenlikely variant
- Belonvariant
- Belennlikely variant
- Lenlendiminutive · ceb
- Belunvariant
- Belanvariant
- Belynvariant
Show 1 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Belen
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Belen, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Selene
“light”
>99% girls
Elaina
“the shining light”
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Echo
“sound returned”
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Rhea
Rhea is a feminine given name from Ancient Greek. It is used in English, Norwegian Bokmål, and Cebuano.
>99% girls
Colette
“of the victorious people”
>99% girls
Elena
“the shining light”
>99% girls
Esme
“one who is esteemed”
>99% girls
Rue
“from the medicinal herb”
7% boys · 93% girls