Given name & surname
Beth
“my God is bountiful”·“God is my oath”·“My God is bountiful”
Beth is a compact form of Elizabeth with a familiar literary association in Little Women.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Beth carries the interpretation “my God is bountiful.” In English use, Beth is a diminutive of Elizabeth. “God is my oath” is the etymological interpretation given for Elisabeth, the same name in a different spelling. “My God is bountiful” is another recorded interpretation, but the two should be kept distinct rather than blended into one literal translation. In English use, Beth has a related form in Bess. In English use, Bess carries the interpretation “my God is bountiful.” In English use, Beth is a diminutive of Bethany. Interpretations include “house of figs” and “from the house of figs” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
In English use, Beth is used as a shortened form of Exizabeth. Beth is used as a form of Elizabeth. In English use, Beth is a diminutive of Elizabeth. The shared background comes through Elizabeth: English generally uses Elizabeth with a z, where many European languages retain Elisabeth with an s. Elisabeth is connected with Elisheba; its final element may have been reshaped through association with Hebrew shabbath, “sabbath.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Beth March, one of the four sisters in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, helped bring this short form of Elizabeth wider attention after the novel appeared in 1868.
Beth through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 159,755
- 325 boys · 159,430 girls
- Most popular year
- 1961
- 6,731 babies
- 2025
- 45
- #3,405 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +11%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 45 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,405 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 11.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 6,716 in 1961. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (8). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 136,269 as a first name in 2020; 869 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.
Beth’s family of names
In English usage, Beth is a diminutive of Elizabeth. In English usage, Beth has a related form in Bess. Beth is a short form of Elizabeth.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 5
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Beth
- Beth BehrsAmerican actressborn 1985
- Beth HartAmerican blues rock musicianborn 1972
- Beth MeadEnglish footballerborn 1995
- Beth GibbonsBritish singerborn 1965
- Beth PhoenixAmerican professional wrestlerborn 1980
- Beth BroderickAmerican actressborn 1959
- Beth GrantAmerican actressborn 1949
- Beth RiesgrafAmerican actressborn 1978
- Beth TweddleBritish artistic gymnast (born 1985)
Characters named Beth: Beth Harmon (The Queen's Gambit), Beth Greene (fictional character), Beth Smith (Rick and Morty).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Beth, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Sheryl
“one who is greatly loved; a darling” · “from the bright clearing”
>99% girls
Lecia
“noble” · “kind”
>99% girls
Merry
“one who is lighthearted and joyful” · “filled with joy”
>99% girls
Pamela
“very strange” · “a woman who is as sweet as honey”
>99% girls
Chirley
“from the bright clearing”
>99% girls
Darcie
“a dark beauty”
>99% girls
Licia
Licia is a variant of Lecia. In English use, Lecia carries the interpretation “woman of the nobility; truthful; having high moral character.”
>99% girls
Janis
Janis is used as a given name and a surname. Janis is connected with Janice and John.
7% boys · 93% girls