Find out how popular the first name Berel has been for the last 47 years (from 1977 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Berel by gender

Based on the last 47 years of data, Berel is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Berel.

The history of the first name Berel

The name Berel is a Yiddish diminutive form of the Hebrew name Dov, which means "bear" in English. It has its origins in Eastern and Central European Jewish communities, where Yiddish was widely spoken. The earliest recorded use of the name Berel dates back to the 16th century in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, although it may have been in use earlier.

One of the earliest known historical figures with the name Berel was Berel Sofer, a 17th-century Polish rabbi and author of several influential works on Jewish law and philosophy. Another notable individual was Berel Leyzer, a 19th-century Polish-Jewish poet and author who wrote in both Yiddish and Hebrew.

In the 20th century, Berel Wein, an American Orthodox rabbi and historian, gained prominence for his lectures and writings on Jewish history and Torah commentary. He was born in 1934 and passed away in 2022. Another well-known Berel was Berel Katznelson, an Israeli politician and labor leader who played a significant role in the establishment of the State of Israel. He was born in 1887 and died in 1944.

The name Berel is also associated with Berel Soloveitchik, a 20th-century Lithuanian-American rabbi and rosh yeshiva (dean) of the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary in New York City. He was born in 1903 and died in 1992, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the field of Talmudic studies and Jewish law.

While the name Berel has been predominantly used within Jewish communities, it has also been adopted by others over time, albeit to a lesser extent. Its enduring popularity can be attributed to its connection to Jewish culture and tradition, as well as its distinctive and meaningful origin.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Berel was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Berel, please contact us.

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