Given name & surname
Betsy
“God is my oath”·“My God is bountiful”·“my God is bountiful”
In English use, Betsy is an affectionate form of Elizabeth. “God is my oath” is the etymological interpretation given for Elisabeth, the same name in a different spelling. “My God is bountiful” is another recorded interpretation, but the two should be kept distinct rather than blended into one literal translation. Betsy is a variant of Betty. In English use, Betty carries the interpretation “my God is bountiful.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Betsy is an affectionate form of Elizabeth. “God is my oath” is the etymological interpretation given for Elisabeth, the same name in a different spelling. “My God is bountiful” is another recorded interpretation, but the two should be kept distinct rather than blended into one literal translation. Betsy is a variant of Betty. In English use, Betty carries the interpretation “my God is bountiful.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Betsy is an affectionate form of Elizabeth. Elizabeth is the usual English spelling of Elisabeth. The related biblical forms connect it with the Hebrew name Elisheba, borne by Aaron’s wife.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English use, Betsy is used as an affectionate form of Elizabeth. In English use, Betsy is an affectionate form of Elizabeth. The shared background comes through Elizabeth: English generally uses Elizabeth with a z, where many European languages retain Elisabeth with an s. Elisabeth is connected with Elisheba; its final element may have been reshaped through association with Hebrew shabbath, “sabbath.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Betsy is an affectionate form of Elizabeth. The history of Elizabeth gives this family its wider story. The New Testament Elisabeth is the mother of John the Baptist. English royal associations include Elizabeth I and, in the twentieth century, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and her daughter Elizabeth II. Elizabeth’s familiar forms developed along several paths, including Eliza, Beth, Bess, Betty, Libby and Lizzie.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Betsy through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 48,957
- 10 boys · 48,947 girls
- Most popular year
- 1959
- 1,390 babies
- 2025
- 63
- #2,724 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −23%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 63 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,724 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 23.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 1,390 in 1959. In 2025, California and Texas shared the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (8 each). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 37,502 as a first name in 2020; 106 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Betsy’s family of names
In English usage, Betsy is a diminutive of Elizabeth. Betsy has a related form in Betty. Betsy is an affectionate form of Elizabeth.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Betsy has relatives in 5 languages.
8 related names in 5 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 9
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Elizabethfull form · English
- Bettyvariant
- Bessievariant · English
- Bettsylikely variant
- Betsyelikely variant
- Betsivariant · English
- Bettsielikely variant
- Betssylikely variant
Show 1 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 46
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Isabellaequivalent
- Isabelleequivalent
- Isabelequivalent
- Izabellaequivalent
- Elisabethequivalent
- Lisaequivalent
- Lizequivalent
- Lizaequivalent
Show 38 moreShow fewer
- Tinaequivalent
- Izabelequivalent
- Izabelaequivalent
- Ilseequivalent
- Lieslequivalent
- Lieselequivalent
- Ilsaequivalent
- Betinaequivalent
- Bettinaequivalent
- Elizabetequivalent
- Betzyequivalent
- Elisabettaequivalent
- Liisaequivalent
- Lieseequivalent
- Tineequivalent
- Liseequivalent
- Elizabetaequivalent
- Betseyequivalent
- Ilzeequivalent
- Liisiequivalent
- Alžbětaequivalent
- Elizabetoequivalent
- Ísabellaequivalent
- Petiequivalent
- БетсиRussian
- Eskeequivalent
- Ilzaequivalent
- Elžbietaequivalent
- Erzsébetequivalent
- Élisabethequivalent
- Ealisaidequivalent
- Liesbethequivalent
- Elesbedequivalent
- Elżbietaequivalent
- БетсySerbo-Croatian
- ベッツィーJapanese
- ベッツィJapanese
- 贝齐Mandarin
See also 3
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Betsy
- Betsy DeVosAmerican politician and philanthropist (born 1958)
- Betsy BlairAmerican actress (1923–2009)
- Betsy BrandtAmerican actress (born 1973)
- Betsy RossAmerican upholsterer who was credited by her relatives with making the first American flag1752–1836
- Betsy RussellAmerican actressborn 1963
- Betsy PalmerAmerican actress (1926–2015)
- Betsy NagelsenUS tennis playerborn 1956
- Betsy DrakeAmerican actress and writer (1923–2015)
- Betsy JolasFrench composer (born 1926)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Betsy, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Bethie
“God is my oath” · “My God is bountiful”
>99% girls
Becky
“one who is bound to God”
>99% girls
Betsie
“God is my oath” · “My God is bountiful”
>99% girls
Sally
“princess; lady” · “princess”
>99% girls
Buffie
“my God is bountiful”
>99% girls
Sarita
“princess”
>99% girls
Shary
“princess”
>99% girls
Erzsi
“God is my oath” · “My God is bountiful”
>99% girls