Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Betty
GirlEnglish, Hebrew· “short for Elizabeth; my God is an oath”
- Meaning
- short for Elizabeth; my God is an oath
- Origin
- English, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- BEH-tee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,113
- US babies 2025
- 212
- Best rank
- #2 (1928)
- Peak year
- 1930
Meaning and origin of Betty
Betty is an English and Hebrew name that means “short for Elizabeth; my God is an oath”.
Betty is a pet form of Elizabeth, from the Hebrew name Elisheba, meaning "my God is an oath." It developed in England in the eighteenth century and became a hugely popular independent name in the United States in the early and middle twentieth century. The name belongs to a long line of famous bearers, including actress Betty Grable, activist Betty Friedan and television star Betty White, as well as cartoon character Betty Boop. Today Betty has a playful, retro charm, and it is being rediscovered as a vintage choice. It can stand alone or serve as a nickname for Elizabeth, Bethany or Beatrice.
Other spellings with the same sound: Bette, Betti.
Popularity over time
Betty has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 117 different years. Its best national rank was #2 in 1928, and the most babies received it in 1930, when 38,240 were named Betty. In 2025, 212 babies were named Betty, and it ranked #1,113 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #11 in 1920, #26 in 1950, #359 in 1980, #1,150 in 2000, #1,597 in 2010, and #1,113 in 2025. Of the 1,001,238 US girls named Betty since records began, 30% were born in the 1930s, its biggest decade. The 1920s come next, with 283,096 babies. Since 2010, 3,024 more have been named Betty.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Dolores.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Betty ranked highest in Utah, Missouri, and Kansas.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Betty is usually pronounced BEH-tee, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with B and ends in “-ty”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Bette and Betti.
Middle names for Betty
A few middle names that flow with Betty: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Betty
Similar names
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Lists that include Betty
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Betty mean?
Betty is an English and Hebrew name that means “short for Elizabeth; my God is an oath”.
What is the origin of the name Betty?
Betty has English and Hebrew roots. Betty is a pet form of Elizabeth, from the Hebrew name Elisheba, meaning "my God is an oath." It developed in England in the eighteenth century and became a hugely popular independent name in the United States in the early and middle twentieth century.
Is Betty a popular name?
Not especially. Betty ranked #1,113 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Betty a boy or girl name?
Betty is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Betty?
Betty is usually pronounced BEH-tee. 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