Belen
A Spanish feminine name derived from Bethlehem, a biblical place name.
Name Census estimates that about 10,955 living Americans carry the first name Belen. It is a predominantly female name (99.3% of registrations). The average person named Belen today is around 22 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Belen births was 2024 (430 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Belen. 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
- • Although Belen is used almost entirely for girls, the SSA data does show 79 boys registered with the name since 1880.
People living today
11K
~ 1 in 31,287 Americans
Peak year
2024
430 babies that year
Average age
22
years old
2022 SSA rank
#669
Tracked since 1909
Gender
Gender distribution for Belen
Out of the 12,019 babies given the name Belen since 1880, 99.3% were registered as female. The name sits firmly on the female side of the spectrum, with only a handful of male registrations across the entire dataset.
Belen as a male name
- Ranked #11,044 in 2022
- 6 male births in 2022
- Peak: 1982 (8 births)
Belen as a female name
- Ranked #669 in 2024
- 430 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (430 births)
Popularity
Belen: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Belen from the 1900s through to the 2020s, spanning 13 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 3,112 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Belen remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Belen 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 Belen during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Belens live
The SSA's state-level files cover 32 states and territories. California, Texas, Arizona recorded the most babies named Belen, while South Carolina, Nebraska, Louisiana recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 304 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Belen
Belen is a given name with roots tracing back to ancient history and various cultures. The name is derived from the Greek word "Bethlehem", which means "house of bread" or "house of flesh". Bethlehem was a significant place in Christian tradition, as it was the birthplace of Jesus Christ according to the New Testament.
Belen has been used as a given name in various forms and spellings across different languages and regions. In Spanish-speaking countries, it is a popular feminine name, often spelled as "Belén". The name has been in use since the Middle Ages, particularly in Spain and Latin American regions with strong Catholic influences.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Belen can be found in the 12th century, when a Spanish noblewoman named Belén de Castilla lived during the reign of King Alfonso VIII. In the 16th century, Belén de Cepeda was a Spanish mystic and writer who is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Belen. Belén Sarro (1790-1865) was a Spanish nun and founder of the Congregation of the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Belén Fabra (1832-1912) was a Spanish educator and writer who advocated for women's education and rights.
In the 20th century, Belén Gopegui (born 1963) is a contemporary Spanish writer and philosopher, known for her novels and essays exploring social and political themes. Belén Rueda (born 1976) is a renowned Spanish actress who has appeared in numerous films and television series.
Belen is also a name that has found its way into popular culture and entertainment. For instance, Belén Rodríguez (born 1984) is an Argentine model and television personality who has gained fame in Italy.
Overall, the name Belen has a rich history and cultural significance, particularly in regions with strong Christian and Spanish influences. Its roots can be traced back to ancient times, and it has been borne by numerous notable individuals throughout the centuries, reflecting its enduring popularity and appeal.
People
Belen + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Belen 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
Belen: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Belen?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10,955 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Belen 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 31,287 US residents.
Is Belen a common name?
We classify Belen as "Uncommon". It ranks above 97.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12,019 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Belen most popular?
The single biggest year for Belen was 2024, when 430 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Belen is about 22 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Belen a female name?
Yes, 99.3% of people registered as Belen in the SSA data are female. 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.
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.