UK boy's name
Betzalel
Meaning "in the shadow of God", a masculine Hebrew name.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Betzalel is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Betzalel popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 7 births.
This profile covers 25 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2003 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 25 living people in the UK are called Betzalel. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Betzalel ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 7 boys were registered as Betzalel.
- • About 25 living people in the UK are estimated to have Betzalel as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2004
7 births
Estimated living
25
2026
Meaning
What does Betzalel mean?
The given name Betzalel is of Hebrew origin and can be traced back to the Old Testament. It is a combination of two Hebrew words: "betzel" meaning "in the shadow of" and "El" which is one of the names for God. The name literally translates to "in the shadow of God" or "under the protection of God."
In the Book of Exodus, Betzalel was the chief artisan who oversaw the construction of the Tabernacle in the wilderness during the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. He was appointed by God and given special skills in craftsmanship, including the ability to work with gold, silver, and bronze, as well as to cut and set stones. Betzalel's name is mentioned several times in Exodus 31, 35, 36, 37, and 38, highlighting his significant role in creating the sacred dwelling place for the Ark of the Covenant.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Betzalel is the biblical figure mentioned in the Book of Exodus. After him, the name appears to have been used sporadically throughout history, but there are a few notable individuals who bore this name.
Betzalel ben Abraham Ashkenazi (1520-1592) was a prominent Talmudic scholar and rabbinical authority who lived in Palestine during the 16th century. He authored several works on Jewish law and commentary on the Talmud.
Betzalel Stern (1911-1970) was an Israeli poet and writer who was known for his lyrical poetry and prose works that explored themes of nature, love, and Jewish identity. He was born in Galicia, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Betzalel Shafir (1924-2008) was an Israeli architect and city planner who had a significant influence on the development of modern architecture in Israel. He designed several notable buildings, including the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
Betzalel Blitz (1881-1941) was a Polish-born Hasidic rabbi and author who served as the Admor (spiritual leader) of the Chassidic dynasty of Munkacs, a town in present-day Ukraine.
Betzalel Hakohen (1932-2022) was an Israeli Orthodox rabbi and scholar who served as the Rosh Yeshiva (dean) of the Ponevezh Yeshiva, one of the most prestigious Talmudic academies in Israel.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Betzalel over time
The chart below shows babies named Betzalel registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Betzalel, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Betzalel by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Betzalel was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4954 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4743 | 9 | 3 |
| 2000s | #2769 | 10 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Betzalel
- Benjamin 90,412
- Ben 36,356
- Bradley 30,230
- Brandon 26,411
- Billy 18,608
- Bobby 16,904
- Blake 16,337
- Bailey 16,014
- Brody 7,230
- Beau 6,722
- Barnaby 5,284
- Brodie 4,801
FAQ
Betzalel: questions and answers
How popular is the name Betzalel in the UK right now?
In 2024, Betzalel was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Betzalel most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 7 babies registered as Betzalel in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Betzalel?
Meaning "in the shadow of God", a masculine Hebrew name.
How many people are called Betzalel in the UK?
A total of 25 babies have been registered as Betzalel across the 7 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.