Betty
How to say it: BET-ee · /ˈbɛti/
Diminutive of Elizabeth, from Hebrew 'Elisheba' meaning 'my God is an oath' or 'my God is abundance'.
Betty was the 948th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 212 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1930s, its births are up about 9% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #880 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #948 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 212 |
| Share of births | 1 in 15,069 |
| Peak decade | 1930s |
| Change over 10 years | +9% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #880 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,541 among girls’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Beloved in the 1930s, Betty has settled far below that high while staying in use. From this low point, a small rise looks likely.
What goes with it
Bright and snappy with crisp sounds, Betty feels gentle and cheerful. Dorothy and Ruth belong to the same style.
Nicknames
- Bett
- Bets
Other spellings
Honouring a Betty in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Betty is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Norwegian, Swedish.
In France: #2,541 for girls in 2025.
England and Wales: #391.
Famous people named Betty
- Betty White (1922–2021)American actress and comedian
- Betty Ford (1918–2011)First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977
- Betty Friedan (1921–2006)American feminist writer and activist
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Betty Boop is a classic American cartoon icon
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