Betty
Betty is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Pledged to God or oath of God.
Origin and history
Betty originated as a diminutive of Elizabeth, which is derived from the Hebrew name Elisheba meaning 'God is my oath'. Although overwhelmingly used for females, historical U.S. birth records show it was occasionally given to males in the early-to-mid 20th century. Today, its male usage in the United States is extremely rare and considered unranked.
Popularity in the United States
3,619 babies in the United States have been named Betty since 1880. It ranks #2130 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- TX (10.5 %)
- NC (10.4 %)
- GA (7.8 %)
- OH (7.2 %)
- PA (6.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 30 |
| 1910-1920 | 89 |
| 1920-1930 | 753 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,431 |
| 1940-1950 | 742 |
| 1950-1960 | 311 |
| 1960-1970 | 172 |
| 1970-1980 | 62 |
| 1980-1990 | 29 |
| 1990-2000 | 0 |
| 2000-2010 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Fun facts
- Betty originated as an English pet form of Elizabeth alongside Beth and Betsy.
- In the early 20th century, Betty saw occasional cross-gender usage for males in United States census and birth records.