Beulah is a unique and uncommon female given name of Hebrew origin. It means "married woman" or "wedded wife." The name was popularized by the 19th-century poet, John Greenleaf Whittier, who used it in his long poem "The Bride of Lebanon." In the poem, Beulah is a symbolic figure representing the ideal Christian wife and mother.
Before Whittier's work, Beulah was not widely known or used as a given name. It appeared occasionally in literature and religious contexts, often referring to the biblical land of Beulah, which is described in Isaiah 62:4 as a place of joy and gladness. However, it wasn't until Whittier's poem that Beulah began to gain recognition as a personal name.
In recent years, Beulah has seen limited use as a given name but remains relatively rare compared to other names. Despite its rarity, the name Beulah carries a unique and poetic history, making it an attractive choice for parents looking for an uncommon yet meaningful name for their daughter.
"The name Beulah saw significant popularity from the late 1800s to around 1940, peaking at 2401 births in 1916. After World War II, its usage steadily declined, reaching single digits by the late 1970s and remaining quite rare since then, with an average of fewer than five births per year from 2000 onwards."