Gender Feminine & Masculine
Usage English
Pronounced Pron. BEHV-ər-lee  [key·IPA]

Meaning & History

From an English surname that was originally derived from the name of a Yorkshire city, itself from Old English beofor "beaver" and (possibly) licc "stream". It came into use as a masculine given name in the 19th century, then became common as an American feminine name after the publication of George Barr McCutcheon's 1904 novel Beverly of Graustark [1]. It was most popular in the 1930s, and has since greatly declined in use.

Related Names

VariantBeverley
DiminutiveBev

Popularity

People think this name is

classic   mature   formal   upper class   wholesome   strong   refined   serious  

Categories

Sources & References

  1. Evans, Cleveland Kent. The Great Big Book of Baby Names. Publications International, 2006, page 367.
Entry updated January 21, 2022