Old Spanish Alternative forms Belleem, Belleen, Betheleem, Bethleem, Bethlem Etymology From Ancient Greek Βηθλεέμ (Bēthleém), from Hebrew בֵּית לֶחֶם (bêṯ leḥem). Pronunciation IPA(key): /beldeˈem/ Proper noun Beldeem f Bethlehem (a city in the modern West Bank, Palestine) c. 1250, Alfonso X, Lapidario, f. 76v. col. 1:De ih́rĺm faſta bethleé ados leguaſ de beldeem. fue lafermoſa noemj.From Jerusalem to Bethlehem, two leagues away from Bethlehem, went the beautiful Naomi. Descendants Spanish: BelénWikiwand - on Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.