Beale
A masculine name possibly derived from the Old French word "beau", meaning beautiful.
Name Census estimates that about 3 living Americans carry the first name Beale. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Beale today is around 77 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Beale births was 1942 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Beale. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Beale is about 77 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Beales were born before 1959.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Beale. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
3
~ 1 in 114,251,446 Americans
Peak year
1942
6 babies that year
Average age
77
years old
1942 SSA rank
#3,246
Tracked since 1942
Popularity
Beale: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Beale by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Beale during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Beale
The name Beale is an English given name of uncertain origin. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "beal," which means "bale" or "misfortune." However, some scholars argue that it may also be related to the Old French word "beau," meaning "beautiful" or "handsome."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Beale can be traced back to the 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a document recording landowners in England, there is a mention of a man named Beale de Morewode. This suggests that the name was already in use during the medieval period.
The name Beale has been associated with various notable figures throughout history. One of the most prominent individuals bearing this name was Beale Postellwayt (1605-1679), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Ipswich. He played a significant role during the English Civil War, initially supporting the Parliamentarian cause but later aligning himself with the Royalists.
Another notable figure was Beale Blackwell (1789-1855), an English legal writer and compiler of legal reports. His work, "Blackwell's Reports," published in the early 19th century, became an influential reference in the field of English law.
In the realm of literature, Beale Schlink (1876-1946) was a German-American author and poet. He gained recognition for his works exploring themes of love, nature, and spirituality. His collection of poems, "The Garden of Ecstasy," published in 1909, was widely acclaimed.
The name Beale also appeared in the realm of politics and diplomacy. Beale Davis (1909-1987) was an American diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to Switzerland from 1969 to 1975. He played a crucial role in negotiating the release of American hostages during the Iranian hostage crisis.
Lastly, Beale Ridley (1920-2002) was a British actor and theater director. He is best known for his portrayal of the character Lord Melbury in the 1981 television adaptation of the novel "The Nightmare Man" by David Wiltshire.
While the exact origin of the name Beale remains uncertain, its use throughout history has been documented across various fields, including politics, literature, law, and the performing arts. These examples illustrate the enduring legacy and diverse applications of this intriguing English given name.
People
Beale + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Beale as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Beale: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Beale?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 3 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Beale going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 114,251,446 US residents.
Is Beale a common name?
We classify Beale as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Beale most popular?
The single biggest year for Beale was 1942, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Beale is about 77 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Beale in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Beale a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Beale in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Beale still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Beale in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Beale can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Beale as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many people share the name Beale on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.