Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Bettina
GirlItalian, German· “diminutive of Elizabeth”
- Meaning
- diminutive of Elizabeth
- Origin
- Italian, German
- Pronunciation
- buh-TEE-nuh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #10,229
- US babies 2025
- 9
- Best rank
- #714 (1965)
- Peak year
- 1965
Meaning and origin of Bettina
Bettina is an Italian and German name that means “diminutive of Elizabeth”.
Bettina is an Italian and German diminutive of Elisabetta or Elisabeth, from the Hebrew Elisheva, my God is an oath. The German writer Bettina von Arnim, a figure of the Romantic era, made the name well known in Germany. It is said buh-TEE-nuh. Tina and Betty are possible nicknames. The name has an elegant, European feel. Bettina has been used in the English-speaking world as a softer alternative to Betty.
Popularity over time
Bettina first appears in US Social Security records in 1903. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 22 different years, starting in 1945. Its best national rank was #714 in 1965, the same year it reached its highest count of 192 babies. In 2025, 9 babies were named Bettina, and it ranked #10,229 nationally. That is 50% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #1,555 in 1920, #1,100 in 1950, #948 in 1980, #6,532 in 2000, #11,412 in 2010, and #10,229 in 2025. Of the 6,482 US girls named Bettina since records began, 25% were born in the 1960s, its biggest decade. The 1970s come next, with 1,115 babies. Since 2010, 153 more have been named Bettina.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Kandy, Twyla, Barbie, Collette, and Gidget.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Bettina is usually pronounced buh-TEE-nuh, with three syllables. It has seven letters, starts with B and ends in “-na”.
Middle names for Bettina
A few middle names that flow with Bettina: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Bettina
Similar names
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joh-HA-nuh
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loh-REH-nuh
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mahr-LAY-nuh
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ay-dree-AN-uh
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kuh-REE-nuh
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Lists that include Bettina
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Bettina mean?
Bettina is an Italian and German name that means “diminutive of Elizabeth”.
What is the origin of the name Bettina?
Bettina has Italian, German, and Hebrew roots. Bettina is an Italian and German diminutive of Elisabetta or Elisabeth, from the Hebrew Elisheva, my God is an oath.
Is Bettina a popular name?
Not especially. Bettina ranked #10,229 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Bettina a boy or girl name?
Bettina is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Bettina?
Bettina is usually pronounced buh-TEE-nuh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings