The Biblical name Bathsheba appeared for the first time in the U.S. baby name data in 1951:
- 1953: 14 baby girls named Bathsheba
- 1952: 12 baby girls named Bathsheba
- 1951: 9 baby girls named Bathsheba [debut]
- 1950: unlisted
- 1949: unlisted
What put it there?
The historical epic David and Bathsheba, which was released in mid-1951 and ended up becoming one of the top-grossing movies of the year. (It was produced by Darryl F. Zanuck, father of Darrylin.)
The film, a retelling of the Biblical story, starred Gregory Peck as King David, whose “lust for a married woman [had] disastrous consequences for Israel.” The other star was Susan Hayward, who played Bathsheba, the wife of ill-fated soldier Uriah.
The name Bathsheba is an Anglicized form of the Hebrew name Bat Sheva, which means “daughter of the oath.” In the movie, it’s pronounced BATH-shee-bah.
What are your thoughts on the baby name Bathsheba?
Source: David and Bathsheba (1951) – TCM