Beulah is a unique and uncommon female given name of Hebrew origin. It means "married" or "in marriage," symbolizing the union and commitment between two individuals in holy matrimony. This name has been used throughout history, with some notable figures bearing this name including Beulah Bondi, an American actress known for her performances in films such as "It Happened One Night" and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."
The origin of the name Beulah can be traced back to the Hebrew language where it is written as "בּוּל" (bûl) and is derived from the root verb "בָּלַח" (balach), which means "to marry" or "to join together." In the Bible, Beulah is also used as a metaphorical name for Jerusalem in the Book of Isaiah, signifying its status as the spouse of God.
Despite its Hebrew roots and biblical references, Beulah was not widely used as a given name until the late 19th century. It gained popularity during the Victorian era when many people were drawn to names with biblical or literary connections. However, even today, Beulah remains relatively rare compared to other names, perhaps due to its unconventional sound and historical associations.
In summary, Beulah is a unique and distinctive female given name with Hebrew origins that means "married" or "in marriage." While it has not been widely used throughout history, notable figures such as Beulah Bondi have carried this name into popular culture.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Beulah has had varying popularity over the years in the United States. The highest peak of popularity occurred in 1915 with 14 births that year. This is a notable increase compared to the previous year, which had only 7 births.
Interestingly, the years 1892 and 1898 both saw 6 Beulahs born each year, indicating that the name may have been moderately popular during this period. However, there was a significant drop in popularity between these two years, with no Beulahs being born between them.
From 1900 to 1925, there was more consistency in the number of births for the name Beulah, ranging from 5 to 9 births per year. This period includes the year 1917, which had a notable increase with 12 births, second only to the peak in 1915.
After 1925, the popularity of the name Beulah began to decline steadily. From 1927 to 1938, there were no more than 7 births per year for this name, with most years seeing only 5 or fewer babies named Beulah.
In total, over these years (1892-1938), there were 213 babies born in the United States named Beulah. This data provides an insight into the fluctuations of popularity for this particular name throughout different decades.