Fun Facts About the Name Berel
- 194 babies named Berel: U.S. records list 194 babies given the name Berel from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Berel Mean?
Berel is a Yiddish diminutive of the name Ber; its literal sense is "little bear." Ber comes from the Yiddish word for bear, which derives from Middle High German bër and Old High German bero. The Yiddish diminutive suffix is a final -l, represented in the English spelling as -el. In Ashkenazi Jewish naming, Ber was used as a vernacular counterpart to the Hebrew name Dov, which also means "bear"; Berel belongs to that tradition rather than to a separate Hebrew root.
Berel Name History & Origins
Berel (Yiddish בערל) developed in Yiddish-speaking Ashkenazi communities as a diminutive of Ber. Ber belongs to the German-derived layer of Ashkenazi personal names: Jews in German-speaking lands adopted or adapted local names and often used them alongside Hebrew names. In that pairing system, Ber was the vernacular counterpart of the Hebrew name Dov, and a man called Dov might be known in Yiddish as Ber or Berel.
The spelling Berel represents Yiddish Berl, formed from Ber with the Yiddish diminutive suffix -l; the e in the English spelling stands between the final r and l. The same affectionate pattern appears in names such as Yankel from Yankev. Related forms include Ber itself, while Dov is the Hebrew counterpart used in paired naming. The name is not biblical Hebrew in origin but a Yiddish development from a Germanic root.
How Popular is the Name Berel?
Berel has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2016. Its best rank was #3,696 in 1960.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,501 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2024 | #7,802 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #10,991 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #7,828 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2021 | #7,667 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2020 | #7,584 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #6,454 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2018 | #10,951 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2017 | #8,946 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2016 | #6,401 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #10,830 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #8,219 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2013 | #9,760 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2012 | #8,964 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2011 | #9,733 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2010 | #10,922 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #9,080 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #11,223 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #9,887 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #11,555 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1992 | #8,558 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1977 | #5,932 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1960 | #3,696 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #4,042 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1952 | #3,787 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore More Lists with Name Berel
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with B
Unique Short Boy Names That Start with B
How the Name Berel Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You can go to great heights and equally great depths. You are emotional and fixed in your opinions. You are hospitable, sentimental, often psychic, sometimes moody. You are ruled by love and the lack of it and feel a need to be encouraged and appreciated. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Berel's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Berel's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.