Betty
A diminutive of the female given name Elizabeth.
Every Betty since 1880 — 1,004,857 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Betty
Betty is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #1,113 in 2025 with 212 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 1,004,857 American babies have been named Betty. Its peak came in 1930, when 38,396 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1930s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Betty stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Betty year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 212 | #1,113 | — | — |
| 2024 | 253 | #1,012 | — | — |
| 2023 | 202 | #1,187 | — | — |
| 2022 | 210 | #1,157 | — | — |
| 2021 | 205 | #1,189 | — | — |
| 2020 | 198 | #1,175 | — | — |
| 2019 | 163 | #1,379 | — | — |
| 2018 | 216 | #1,131 | — | — |
| 2017 | 177 | #1,319 | — | — |
| 2016 | 179 | #1,328 | — | — |
| 2015 | 192 | #1,268 | — | — |
| 2014 | 196 | #1,240 | — | — |
| 2013 | 177 | #1,322 | — | — |
| 2012 | 141 | #1,553 | — | — |
| 2011 | 167 | #1,375 | — | — |
| 2010 | 136 | #1,597 | — | — |
| 2009 | 150 | #1,517 | — | — |
| 2008 | 141 | #1,606 | — | — |
| 2007 | 135 | #1,646 | — | — |
| 2006 | 138 | #1,567 | — | — |
| 2005 | 135 | #1,526 | — | — |
| 2004 | 140 | #1,453 | — | — |
| 2003 | 148 | #1,365 | — | — |
| 2002 | 129 | #1,480 | — | — |
| 2001 | 154 | #1,277 | — | — |
| 2000 | 176 | #1,150 | — | — |
| 1995 | 236 | #830 | — | — |
| 1990 | 406 | #572 | — | — |
| 1985 | 502 | #437 | 5 | #6,627 |
| 1980 | 658 | #359 | — | — |
| 1975 | 1,021 | #237 | 8 | #3,983 |
| 1970 | 1,966 | #169 | 8 | #3,551 |
| 1965 | 3,566 | #103 | 18 | #1,862 |
| 1960 | 6,501 | #68 | 29 | #1,489 |
| 1955 | 9,924 | #36 | 21 | #1,686 |
| 1950 | 13,615 | #26 | 31 | #1,293 |
| 1945 | 18,387 | #11 | 62 | #784 |
| 1940 | 22,077 | #5 | 115 | #551 |
| 1935 | 28,674 | #4 | 151 | #461 |
| 1930 | 38,240 | #2 | 156 | #476 |
| 1925 | 32,812 | #3 | 84 | #703 |
| 1920 | 14,016 | #11 | 25 | #1,510 |
| 1915 | 4,181 | #53 | 11 | #2,320 |
| 1910 | 1,389 | #69 | 5 | #1,614 |
| 1905 | 807 | #85 | 5 | #1,253 |
| 1900 | 665 | #100 | — | — |
| 1895 | 350 | #131 | — | — |
| 1890 | 216 | #164 | — | — |
| 1885 | 155 | #145 | — | — |
| 1880 | 117 | #136 | — | — |
Famous people named Betty
- Betty Williams Social activist · 1943–2020
- Betty Ford Social activist · 1918–2011
- Betty White Actor · b. 1922
- Betty Friedan Writer · 1921–2006
- Betty Grable Actor · 1916–1973
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Betty mean?
A diminutive of the female given name Elizabeth.
How popular is the name Betty in 2025?
Betty ranked #1,113 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 212 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Betty?
1,004,857 babies have been named Betty in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Betty most popular?
Betty peaked in 1930, when 38,396 newborns received the name.
Is Betty a boy or girl name?
Betty is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Betty rising or falling?
Betty is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Betty?
Well-known people named Betty include Betty Williams (social activist), Betty Ford (social activist), Betty White (actor).