Bethany
[ˈbɛθəni]Meaning
from a biblical town; probably Aramaic or Hebrew, possibly "house of figs"
Background Story
Bethany comes from the name of a biblical town, Βηθανία in Greek, probably of Aramaic or Hebrew origin and possibly meaning "house of affliction" or "house of figs". In the New Testament the town is the home of Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha, and the name has been used as a rare given name in the English-speaking world since the 19th century, in honour of Mary of Bethany. In America it became moderately common after the 1950s, and it is also used in Brazilian Portuguese and Latin American Spanish.
Variations
Beth, Bethy, Betty
Related Names
Adelpha
Recorded as a rare feminine given name in American usage
Amaris
No documented meaning in the sources checked
Ariella
Feminine form of Ariel, a Hebrew name meaning "lion of God"
Barina
An Australian Aboriginal word meaning "summit"
Bashira
Recorded as a feminine given name in Arabic
Bazilla
Beatrix
From Latin Viatrix, feminine of Viator, "voyager, traveller"
Beatriz
Spanish and portuguese form of Beatrix, from Latin viātrīx, 'wayfarer'
Belinda
Feminine given name of unknown origin, apparently coined from Italian bella, "beautiful"
Bellona
Goddess of war in Roman mythology