Given name & surname
Betty
“my God is bountiful”·“God is my oath”·“My God is bountiful”
In English use, Betty is a short 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. In English use, Betty is a short form of Bethany. Interpretations include “house of figs” and “from the house of figs” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Betty carries the interpretation “my God is bountiful.” In English use, Betty is a short 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. In English use, Betty is a short form of Bethany. Interpretations include “house of figs” and “from the house of figs” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
In English use, Betty is used as an affectionate form of Elizabeth. In English use, Betty is a short 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, Betty is a short 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
Betty through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,004,857
- 3,619 boys · 1,001,238 girls
- Most popular year
- 1930
- 38,396 babies
- 2025
- 212
- #1,113 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +16%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 212 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,113 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 16.0% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 38,240 in 1930. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (18). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 382,966 as a first name in 2020; 1,598 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.
Betty’s family of names
In English usage, Betty is a diminutive of Elizabeth. Betty shares a linguistic root with Beitidh. Betty has a related form in Betsy.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Betty has relatives in 13 languages. Lines run from its English roots to each of them.
Nicknames & forms 25
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 47
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Isabellaequivalent
- Isabelleequivalent
- Isabelequivalent
- Izabellaequivalent
- Elisabethequivalent
- Lisaequivalent
- Lizequivalent
- Lizaequivalent
Show 39 moreShow fewer
- Tinaequivalent
- Izabelequivalent
- Izabelaequivalent
- Ilseequivalent
- Lieslequivalent
- Lieselequivalent
- Ilsaequivalent
- Elspethequivalent
- Betinaequivalent
- Elizabetequivalent
- ElisabettaItalian
- Lieseequivalent
- Tineequivalent
- Liseequivalent
- Elizabetaequivalent
- Sabelequivalent
- Ilzeequivalent
- Liisaequivalent
- Besseeequivalent
- БеттиRussian
- Бетиequivalent · Macedonian
- Bettéequivalent · nrf
- Eskeequivalent
- Ilzaequivalent
- Elžbietaequivalent
- Erzsébetequivalent
- Ealisaidequivalent
- Liesbethequivalent
- Elesbedequivalent
- Elżbietaequivalent
- Liisiequivalent
- Alžbětaequivalent
- Elizabetoequivalent
- Ísabellaequivalent
- BeciaPolish
- PetiMāori
- BetijaLatvian
- ベティJapanese
- Beitidhcognate
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Betty
- Betty WhiteAmerican actress and comedian (1922–2021)
- Betty FordFirst Lady of the United States from 1974 to 19771918–2011
- Betty FriedanAmerican feminist writer and activist (1921–2006)
- Betty GrableAmerican actress and pin-up girl (1916–1973)
- Bettie PageAmerican pin-up model (1923–2008)
- Betty HuttonAmerican actress (1921–2007)
- Betty CuthbertAustralian sprinter (1938–2017)
- Betty CompsonAmerican actress (1897–1974)
- Betty HeidlerGerman hammer throwerborn 1983
Characters named Betty: Betty Boop (animated cartoon character), Betty Brant (Marvel Comics), Betty Cooper (Archie Comics character), Betty Applewhite (fictional character on Desperate Housewives).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Betty, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Billie
“having a desire to protect” · “will”
3% boys · 97% girls
Ida
“a king”
>99% girls
Lizzie
“God is my oath” · “My God is bountiful”
>99% girls
Maxine
“the greatest”
>99% girls
Mavis
“resembling a songbird” · “resembling a small bird”
>99% girls
Bobbie
“one who is bright with fame” · “foreign woman”
8% boys · 92% girls
Mildred
“woman of gentle strength”
>99% girls
Fern
“resembling a green shadeloving plant”
2% boys · 98% girls