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Bettymae
How to Pronounce Bettymae
Pronounced BET-ee-may /ˈbɛt.i.meɪ/Medium
Meaning: Bettymae joins Betty, the pet form of Elizabeth from the Hebrew Elisheva 'God is my oath', with Mae, a spelling of May tied to Mary and the month of May. Written as one word, it is a classic double name of the early twentieth century, 'Betty Mae' made a single given name.Low
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
Bettymae is a compound name pairing Betty, the endearing short form of Elizabeth from the Hebrew Elisheva, 'God is my oath', with Mae, a form of May long linked to Mary. Double names run together this way were a real fashion in early-twentieth-century America, especially in the South. Bettymae was always rare, given to only a couple dozen girls a year across a strikingly narrow span.
Its use clustered tightly in the nineteen-twenties, peaking mid-decade and fading within a dozen years, so a Bettymae would be a great-grandmother today if living. It carries the warmth of two beloved names at once and can be split back into Betty and Mae; the joined spelling is very much a period piece.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Bettymae mean?
It is a compound of Betty, from Elizabeth 'God is my oath', and Mae, a form of May tied to Mary.
How do you pronounce Bettymae?
It's said BET-ee-may /ˈbɛt.i.meɪ/, three syllables, with the stress on the first.
Is Bettymae a boy or girl name?
Bettymae is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Bettymae?
It has always been rare, given to only a couple dozen girls a year, clustered in the mid-nineteen-twenties.