Home › Baby Names Directory › Bettylou

Bettylou

♀ Girl

Pronounced BET-ee-loo /ˈbɛt.i.luː/High

Meaning: Bettylou is a compound name joining Betty, a pet form of Elizabeth (Hebrew, 'God is my oath' or 'God is abundance'), with Lou, a short form of Louise. Written as one word, it belongs to the mid-century American fashion for double first names.Medium

In 30 seconds: Bettylou joins Betty and Lou into one vintage double name — Betty from Elizabeth, Lou from Louise (said 'BET-ee-loo'). It peaked around 1927.

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumHebrew, English

MeaningBettylou is a compound name joining Betty, a pet form of Elizabeth (Hebrew, 'God is my oath' or 'God is abundance'), with Lou, a short form of Louise. Written as one word, it belongs to the mid-century American fashion for double first names.

U.S. rank (2015)#14796 ↘ Falling

2015 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1927

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,390

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Bettylou is a compound of two pet names: Betty, from Elizabeth — Hebrew for 'God is my oath' — and Lou, from Louise. American families of the early-to-mid twentieth century loved to run two short names together into one, and Bettylou is a classic of that pattern.

Bettylou was most common around 1927 and appears only rarely after mid-century, though the record lingers into recent years. A girl named Bettylou at the peak would be nearing a hundred today. It is a period double name and has not been revived, though single Betty is stirring again.

Did you know? Bettylou is a written-as-one double name, part of the same mid-century vogue that gave us Marylou, Bettyjo, and Bettyann.

Overall data confidence 60%

References — Bettylou — compound of Betty (Elizabeth) + Lou (Louise)

Variations

Betty LouBettylu

Nicknames

BettyLou

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Bettylou…

Marylou— a same-style vintage double name with Lou

Maryann— a classic mid-century compound first name

Rubylou— lands in the same popularity range

Beverly— shares Bettylou's English roots

Bettyjane— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Bettylou

By themevintage compound mid-century abundance

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Bettylou mean?

Bettylou is a compound of Betty, from Elizabeth ('God is my oath'), and Lou, from Louise.

How do you pronounce Bettylou?

It's said BET-ee-loo /ˈbɛt.i.luː/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Bettylou a boy or girl name?

Bettylou is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Bettylou?

Bettylou was an uncommon vintage double name that crested in the late nineteen-twenties and is rare today.