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Home › Baby Names Directory › Betty

Betty

♀ Girl

Pronounced BET-ee /ˈbɛt.i/High

Meaning: Pledged to God; English pet form of Elizabeth, from Hebrew Elisheba (my God is an oath / my God is abundance)High

In 30 seconds: A classic English diminutive of Elizabeth meaning 'pledged to God.' A top-5 U.S. name in the 1920s–1940s, Betty faded for decades and is now returning as a retro-chic grandma name.
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Origin HighHebrew, English
MeaningPledged to God; English pet form of Elizabeth, from Hebrew Elisheba (my God is an oath / my God is abundance)
U.S. rank (2025)#1113 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births212 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1930
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,001,231

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 193018802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Betty is an English hypocoristic (pet form) of Elizabeth, which derives from the Hebrew Elisheba, meaning 'my God is an oath' or 'my God is abundance.' Betty developed from Betsy and Bess, earlier pet forms of Elizabeth. It became fully independent as a given name in the 20th century.

Betty was among the most popular U.S. girls' names from the 1920s through the 1950s, ranking in the top 5 for much of that period. It declined steadily from the 1960s onward as the mid-century style fell out of fashion. A vintage revival has begun to lift it slightly; it ranked #1008 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? Betty was a top girls' name in the United States around the early-to-mid 1930s — though not #1, which belonged to Mary — a period spanning the Great Depression, when Betty Boop and Betty Grable both embodied cheerful American optimism.
Overall data confidence 94%
Behind the Name — Betty — etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data including 1920s–1940s peak

Variations

BetteBettieBetsy

Nicknames

BettBets

Famous Bearers

  • ★Betty White (1922–2021)
    American actress and comedian known for The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls.
  • ★Betty Grable (1916–1973)
    American actress and dancer, a leading box-office star of the 1940s, whose pin-up photo became iconic during World War II.

If you like Betty…

Nancy— vintage classic from the same 1920s–1950s peak generation
Katy— shares Betty's English roots
Betsy— a fellow English choice
Ellen— lands in the same popularity range
Mattie— the same vintage feel

Explore names like Betty

By themehebrewclassicvintagediminutiveretro-revival
By meaningGod / DivineWealth

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Betty mean?

Betty means 'pledged to God,' as an English pet form of Elizabeth, from Hebrew Elisheba (my God is an oath).

How do you pronounce Betty?

It's said BET-ee — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Betty a boy or girl name?

Betty is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Betty?

Betty ranked #1008 for U.S. girls in 2024. It was one of the most popular girls' names in the U.S. during the late 1920s and early 1930s.

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