Bethany in Chinese
Bethany in Chinese is 贝瑟妮 (Bèi Sè Nī).
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Meaning
- house of figs
Etymologically, Bethany is Hebrew and is commonly glossed as "house of figs". It first shows up in US Social Security records in 1915 and peaked in 1987.
3 ways to write Bethany
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
贝瑟妮
Bèi Sè Nī
The standard transliteration of Bethany: 贝 (bèi, "shell, cowrie (treasure)"), 瑟 (sè, "a zither (classical)"), 妮 (nī, "girl, lass (affectionate)"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
Syllable by syllable: 贝 (bèi) carries "be", 瑟 (sè) carries "tha", 妮 (nī) carries "ny". The tone contour is 4-4-1 (falling, falling, high level).
Character breakdown
25 strokes total (simplified)- 贝
bèi
Tone 4 · 4 strokes (simplified)
shell, cowrie (treasure)
- 瑟
sè
Tone 4 · 13 strokes (simplified)
a zither (classical)
- 妮
nī
Tone 1 · 8 strokes (simplified)
girl, lass (affectionate)
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
青岚
Qīng Lán
Inspired by "house of figs": 青 (qīng, "green, blue; youthful") + 岚 (lán, "mountain mist"), expressing land, hills and home.
Why these characters?
青 (green, blue; youthful) answers the "house" in Bethany's meaning, and 岚 (mountain mist) rounds it off as a typical ending for girls' names.
Character breakdown
15 strokes total (simplified)- 青
qīng
Tone 1 · 8 strokes (simplified)
green, blue; youthful
- 岚
lán
Tone 2 · 7 strokes (simplified)
mountain mist
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
贝岚
Bèi Lán
贝 (bèi, "shell, cowrie (treasure)") + 岚 (lán, "mountain mist"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
It keeps 贝 (bèi), the same opening character as the transliteration 贝瑟妮, for the "be" sound, and replaces the rest with 岚 ("mountain mist") so the whole reads as a real given name.
Character breakdown
11 strokes total (simplified)- 贝
bèi
Tone 4 · 4 strokes (simplified)
shell, cowrie (treasure)
- 岚
lán
Tone 2 · 7 strokes (simplified)
mountain mist
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 97,134 girls named Bethany since 1915, with the high point in 1987 (3,296 births) and the busiest decade being the 1980s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #107 to #501 among girls.
- Peak year
- 1987
- Peak decade
- 1980s
- First year
- 1915
- Total since 1880
- 97,134
More About Bethany in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Bethany offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Bethany, you'll find options that work for you.
If you're exploring Chinese names for girls, you might also be interested in Lydia in Chinese, Brittney in Chinese, and Breanna in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Layla in Chinese, Angelina in Chinese, and Jade in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Bethany, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Bethany to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
How is Bethany translated into Chinese?
贝瑟妮 (Bèi Sè Nī), or 貝瑟妮 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
How popular is the name Bethany?
US Social Security records show 97,134 girls named Bethany since 1915, with the high point in 1987 (3,296 births) and the busiest decade being the 1980s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #107 to #501 among girls.
How many strokes does 贝瑟妮 have?
25 strokes in simplified form and 28 in traditional; per character: 贝 4, 瑟 13, 妮 8.