• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Request a Name

Appellation Mountain

Where every name has a story

  • Baby Name Advice & More
  • Master List: Girl Names
  • Master List: Boy Names
  • Private Baby Name Consulting

Baby Name of the Day: Beulah

January 26, 2011 By appellationmountain 34 Comments

B

Quick: name a name you’d never give to a child.  Gertrude?  Ethel?  Today’s choice often makes that list, but it wasn’t always so.

Thanks to Emily G. for suggesting one from her family tree.  Our Baby Name of the Day is Beulah.

From 1885 through 1916, Beulah ranked in the US Top 100, peaking at #72 in 1903/1904.  She left the rankings after 1959.

Nancy tells us that five girls were named Beulah in 2009.  Her sound is unusual – nothing else sounds quite like BYOO lah.  She’s a Biblical place name, an alternate name for Israel in the Book of Isaiah.  More than a dozen Beulahs dot the map throughout the English-speaking world.  She first became a given name post-Reformation, when parents went looking for non-saintly, but still spiritual, options.

You might recognize actress Beulah Bondi, born in 1888 when the name was quite stylish.  She earned two Best Supporting Actress Oscar nominations in the 1930s, and won an Emmy for her work as Martha Corinne on The Waltons in the 1970s.  She played Jimmy Stewart’s mom four times, despite being just ten years his senior.

If you’ve ever been to Milwaukee, you might have heard of Beulah Brinton.  She opened her home to teach new immigrants to read English.

But for our parents’ generation – or maybe our grandparents – Beulah is tied to one very specific character.  In 1939, Marlin Hurt introduced Beulah on his radio show.  Because it was radio – and a few decades pre-civil rights – no one objected that a white man was voicing a black female character.  Beulah Brown was the Henderson’s housekeeper, known for her common sense and excellent cooking.

The character caught on, and eventually got her own show.  After Hurt died, another white actor continued voicing Beulah.  Eventually Hattie McDaniel – the first African-American actress to win an Oscar – would take over the role, but her health failed, and by the time the television show Beulah debuted on ABC in 1950, she filmed only six episodes.  Ethel Waters and Louise Beavers also shared screen time as the self-proclaimed “Queen of the Kitchen.”

By the 1950s Beulah had been popular for more than two decades.  No wonder parents felt that the name was no longer an option for their daughters, regardless of race or class.

Today’s new parents grew up in the 1970s and 1980s, and some of them are daring to resuscitate names long lost.  Sure enough, there’s Beulah on Nameberry’s Hipper Than Hipster list.  If Opal, Peggy, Fern, and Luella can make a comeback, surely Beulah can, too.

You might recognize British singer Beulah’s 2006 single “Stay.” Former indie band Beulah comes to mind, too, mostly because “Popular Mechanics for Lovers” and other singles have been used in a pair of Michael Cera films in the past few years.

It all makes for a truly daring name.  Beulah is either the next Beatrix or Betty, Oona or Tallulah – names that sound perfectly fashionable today, but twenty years ago were unthinkable – or she’s truly headed for obscurity.

It’s too soon to tell, but if you’re crestfallen to discover that Ramona is the new Matilda, maybe Beulah is one to consider.

More names you might like:

  • Yea or Nay: JudyYea or Nay: Judy
  • Baby Name Tallulah: One to WatchBaby Name Tallulah: One to Watch
  • Baby Name Opal: Vintage ShimmerBaby Name Opal: Vintage Shimmer
  • Baby Name of the Day: VeronaBaby Name of the Day: Verona
  • Baby Name of the Day: CindalBaby Name of the Day: Cindal

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Print

Comments

  1. 1little2little3littleindiansB. says

    June 27, 2011 at 9:25 PM

    I realize this is an older post, but I’m new and shuffling through your blog. I LOVE Beulah. I would totally use it except I’m afraid when calling for her (like someone else already mentioned), I’d say, “Bueller…Bueller…Bueller.” Otherwise, I think it’s an awesome name.

    Reply
    • Beulah King-Booker says

      July 15, 2012 at 12:40 AM

      Thanks my name is Beulah

      Reply
  2. Kaye says

    January 27, 2011 at 11:20 AM

    I’m with Bek, I just can’t like this one on a person. Though I once knew a very cool sheep that went by Beulah.

    Reply
  3. appellationmountain says

    January 27, 2011 at 10:23 AM

    And so Beulah gets a B+! I’m surprised – I thought this might be one of those never-never-no-way names. But I do find myself liking her quirky vibe.

    Could we be just one celebrity baby away from hearing Beulah again?

    And I hadn’t thought about beautiful/Beulah – but that’s a nice point.

    Reply
  4. Panya says

    January 27, 2011 at 2:21 AM

    FYI, I like Gertrude. I think the nickname Gertie is beyond adorable. When we were kids my brother had a hamster we called Gertie. He’s now married with four kids & I still picture him as a 10-year-old boy calling with a falsetto to his Gertie. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Charlotte Vera says

    January 27, 2011 at 1:36 AM

    I’ve actually met a number of Beulahs — in India, not Canada — but the name has never struck me as particularly euphonious. Beulah is also the name of a large church in the city that many of my relatives live, so it would probably sound strange to most of them to hear it on a child.

    And I know I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: I LOVELOVELOVE Gertrude! If the name wasn’t so universally hated I’d use it in a heartbeat.

    Reply
  6. Emmy Jo says

    January 26, 2011 at 10:06 PM

    Thanks for featuring Beulah! I’ve always thought the name was pretty, so I was quite pleased when I discovered I have a Beulah on my family tree.

    Beulah has two major things going for it, as far as I can see. (1) It shares its first syllable with the word “beautiful.” That’s why I’m so surprised that a lot of people say the “BYOO” sound is ugly. (2) It’s very similar in sound to Bella, and thus could serve as a less popular alternative.

    The biblical significance of Beulah is lovely as well. It is used as a metaphor for the land of Israel’s restoration after having turned away from God. It literally means “married” — the name is symbolic of God’s promise to bring Israel back into a loving covenant relationship with him.

    Sarah A — I think you’re absolutely right. I’ve thought before that it would take just one celebrity naming her daughter Beulah for this one to catch on. And if I were a celebrity, I’d use it with out hesitation.

    As it stands now, though? I’m not sure I could give my daughter a name that so many people have unpleasant associations with. People to whom I’ve mentioned Beulah tend to picture a large redneck woman living in a trailer park — I feel horrible even typing that, but I’ve gotten very similar descriptions from people numerous times. I’ve actually heard Beulah may be more acceptable in Britain (along with Jemima), so maybe that offers some hope for it making a comeback.

    Anyway, it has been neat reading everyone’s reactions — and I’m glad some of them are favorable.

    Oh, and I should mention here that I do know a 10-year-old whose middle name is Beulah.

    Reply
    • Sarah A says

      January 27, 2011 at 3:14 PM

      It stinks when people don’t like names that we love! Emmy Jo – your daughter could be the person who changes people’s perceptions of Beulah 🙂 And she could always go by B. Middle name if she didn’t like it, or any of the suggested nn, like Bebe, Bea, Lala.

      I think it’s the letter B itself that can be kind of difficult and that paired with the “oo” sound is what might turn some people off to the name. People might associate Beulah with the word ‘beautiful’ more if Beulah were spelled Beaulah (not that I would EVER suggest respelling a name!).

      I say go for it, if not in the first spot than as a middle name. The biblical significance is great and it’s in your family tree 🙂

      Reply
      • appellationmountain says

        January 27, 2011 at 7:34 PM

        The nicknames really are beyond spectacular – I’m still stuck on Beau and Boo. And I do think that family names trump all, if you’ve decided to turn to your tree for inspiration. It’s the way I felt about Alexander, even though there were SO MANY boys called Alexander. It’s equally true if the name is rare.

        Reply
  7. Julie says

    January 26, 2011 at 9:24 PM

    Am I the only one who sung “Beulah Land” at church camp?

    The “oo” sound isn’t really fashionable, but after thinking about it for a while it’s surprising how many names that I like have it: Sunniva, Oona, June, Ruth, Luke, Reuben, Hugo. I wouldn’t name a child Beulah, but I could grow to like it…

    Reply
    • Emmy Jo says

      January 26, 2011 at 10:09 PM

      I think the “oo” sound is kind of fashionable, actually. Ruby, Lucy, Hugo, Julian, Jude, …

      Reply
  8. Bewildertrix says

    January 26, 2011 at 8:51 PM

    It’s the sound I make when I vomit. I can see exactly why many turn their noses up at it. Ralphing aside, I don’t hate it and prefer it to many more mainstream choices like Olivia and Charlotte.

    I love Gertrude but not enough to inflict it as a first name on a daughter of mine. If I did, I’d be fully prepared to be hated for it.

    Reply
  9. Lemon says

    January 26, 2011 at 8:32 PM

    Some fun British names in here, everyone! Hugh, Arabella, and Bryony just scream upper-crust Brit to me, and I love it!

    (http://www.people.com/people/package/gallery/0,,20395222_20460657,00.html)

    Reply
  10. Bek says

    January 26, 2011 at 3:37 PM

    There’s just something about the sound of Beulah that I find totally unattractive. I can’t pinpoint it at all, but it makes me just go “ick” to say/hear.

    Reply
  11. Kathryn says

    January 26, 2011 at 1:55 PM

    I actually sort of love Beulah. My husband teases me that I like any name that most people thing is old and ugly. It was the name of my great-grandmother, but she went by her middle name, Madge. I just love quirky and old fashioned names. I think it could come back, a little, but not for a few years, at least.

    Maybe if I have another daughter, I could convince my husband to use it as a middle name, though the chance of that is quite slim. 🙂

    Reply
  12. katybug says

    January 26, 2011 at 1:26 PM

    Now I can’t get Ben Stein saying “Bueller…Bueller…” out of my head 🙂
    I could see this name getting popular in more adventurous corners of the baby-naming world, but doubt it will have widespread appeal.

    Reply
  13. Sarah A says

    January 26, 2011 at 11:25 AM

    I would venture a guess that Beulah could be like Hazel…destined for obscurity until she is bestowed upon a celebrity baby. I don’t really like the BYOO sound, but as far as 2 syllable ends in LA sound names go, Beulah’s got Kayla beat by miles in my book 🙂

    In other news, it seems like Alicia Keys may have sparked a country trend with her Egypt Dean Daoud…Mike Tyson just named his baby boy Morocco Elijah!

    Reply
    • Lemon says

      January 26, 2011 at 12:44 PM

      Yep, she may have, but Mike Tyson and his wife were already onto the trend when they named their now-two-year-old daughter, Milan.

      No Doubt’s Tony Kanal and his wife, Erin Lokitz, also had a baby this week – Coco Reese Lakshmi Kanal. Does anybody else think it’s weird that they chose three celebrity-inspired names for their daughter? Coco, as in Chanel and baby Cox-Arquette, Reese as in Witherspoon, and Lakshmi as in the definitely-less-famous Padma – hm.

      And, finally, it appears that Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem have welcomed their first son, name pending.

      OH! Right. Beulah. Eh, not for me. It’s the “byoo” sound that gets me…

      Reply
      • Sarah A says

        January 26, 2011 at 1:55 PM

        Thanks Lemon, I didn’t know they had a daughter named Milan. I guess if you’re going to go with a theme there are worse ones than letter M place names.

        I do think it’s interesting that 2 celebrity babies in the last year have been named for North African/Muslim majority countries.

        Also, nice that you noted Tony Kanal’s daughter has 3 celebrity-inspired names. I hadn’t picked up on that. Perhaps Lakshmi is for someone in Kanal’s family and is just a coincidence with Padma?

        Reply
  14. Kelleita says

    January 26, 2011 at 11:06 AM

    Makes me think of the Mississippi John Hurt Song, Beulah Land. The sound of the name is just really not my style. Sounds like drudging through mud.

    Reply
  15. Claire says

    January 26, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    Names I’d never give to a child? Phyllis. Bertha. But not Beulah. The indie rock association definitely gives it a hip, positive boost, for me, at least.

    Reply
  16. rockingfetal says

    January 26, 2011 at 9:07 AM

    I really don’t find it unattractive. Gertrude either. I don’t understand why most seem to find them so ugly. I’d rather be Beulah or Gertrude over a lot of popular names today.

    Reply
    • Beulah King-Booker says

      July 15, 2012 at 12:30 AM

      True from a Beulah

      Reply
  17. Aislidh says

    January 26, 2011 at 8:56 AM

    I guess you could go with the nickname “Bea” (bee) for Beulah? I’m not sure it’s making a comeback, though. It reminds me of an old Southern lady. Or a New Englander saying “Bueller.”

    Which, speaking of old Southern ladies- may I suggest more family tree names, this time from the Appalachians: Lodusky, Betulah, and Wavel. Where did these names come from??

    Reply
    • Beulah King-Booker says

      July 15, 2012 at 12:29 AM

      My name is Beulah,born in the 60’s.Hared the name.Because I was called Hurricane Beulah at school.Always said as so as I got older I would change it.Teen years picked up the nick-name of Bea,sometime Bee-Bee by those close.When i wad in my 20’s meet someone how told me about Beulah Land.He told me about tht beautiful land.I looked at my name differntly then.One thing about it most people is going to call any name beside Beulah.But once you tell the name they want forget it.

      Reply
  18. Lola says

    January 26, 2011 at 8:00 AM

    I really like Beulah’s sound. My pop – culture brain recalls a Beulah in “Ice Castles” perhaps? Some ice skating thing I read when I was 8 or 9 anyway. Not a gorgeous character (like Zuleika!) but a friendly one.
    I really do like the sound of Beulah. I think it’s soft & beautiful. My problem is her lack of nicknames. I think one cute nickname is all she’d need to mainstream again. Heck if Millie (cute) can save Mildred (which has a sound I really loathe), Beulah needs one. It’ll make people think twice about her. Beulah’s distinctive, and that’s neat. She’ll never be misheard as something else either, I’d bet. Which is another point in her favor.
    All in all, Beulah’s got potential for use, In my book.

    Reply
    • C in DC says

      January 26, 2011 at 2:03 PM

      Yes, Ice Castles. She was the rink owner/coach.

      NN – Boo, LaLa, Belle?

      Reply
      • Sarah A says

        January 26, 2011 at 2:08 PM

        What about Bebe (bee-bee) for a NN, like the actress Bebe Neuwirth?

        Reply
      • Lola says

        January 26, 2011 at 2:29 PM

        Ahh, memory’s an awesome thing; I haven’t read “Ice Castles” in almost 20 years!

        Boo is the sort of nickname that appeals to me, at least until they’re 4 or so (says she with Rufus/Roo on her boys lst!) but maybe Belle or Bebe would work better when she’s older. I really like Belle as a nickname, it’s my sister’s second middle.

        Reply
      • Julie says

        January 26, 2011 at 5:17 PM

        What about Bo/Beau?

        Reply
  19. Panya says

    January 26, 2011 at 7:58 AM

    Um, yeah…I don’t think this one is coming back. Not a fan. At all.

    Reply
    • CheliEsther says

      January 26, 2011 at 8:08 PM

      I like it!
      I love the nickname Boo!

      Last Nigh of Ballyhoo is a great play. The main characters name is Beulah Levy, nicknamed Boo. Her daughter’s name is Lala Levy.

      I also adore Beilah!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter


POPULAR POSTS

Tweets by @appmtn
Visit Appellation Mountain's profile on Pinterest.

Copyright © 2023 · AppellationMountain.net on Genesis Framework · Privacy Policy · Log in