Betsy Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: BET-see /ˈbɛtsi/
Origin: Hebrew; English
Meaning: Hebrew: God is my oath; English: Diminutive of Elizabeth
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Betsy is derived from the Hebrew name Elisheba, meaning "God is my oath." This name was transliterated into Greek as Elisabet and subsequently into Latin as Elisabeth. The name Elisabeth became popular in various forms across Europe, including the Old French form Élisabeth, which eventually led to the English Betsy as a diminutive or affectionate form.
The transition into English occurred during the Middle Ages, particularly as the name Elisabeth gained prominence due to its biblical roots, notably through figures such as Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, mentioned in the New Testament. Throughout history, the name Betsy has been associated with several notable figures.
One significant milestone was the use of the name in the 18th century, particularly in America, where it became popularized through various cultural references and literature. Betsy Ross, a seamstress credited with creating the first American flag, is one of the most famous bearers of the name, and her story has become a symbol of American patriotism and independence.
The name also appears in various literary works and songs, further embedding it in cultural consciousness. Culturally, Betsy has often been associated with qualities such as loyalty and faithfulness, reflecting its etymological roots.
The name has been embraced in various forms, including Betsy as a diminutive of Elizabeth, which has maintained its charm and familiarity across generations. The enduring nature of the name Betsy can be attributed to its historical significance, cultural associations, and the warmth conveyed through its use as a diminutive, making it a beloved choice in various contexts.
Famous people named Betsy
In this section, you will find notable people named Betsy. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Betsy who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Betsy who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Betsy Ross is a seamstress best known for creating the first American flag.
Betsy Brandt is an actress best known for her role in Breaking Bad and The Michael J. Fox Show.
Betsy Johnson is a fashion designer best known for her unique clothing designs and vibrant patterns.
Fictional characters named Betsy
The following list of fictional characters named Betsy is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Betsy Braddock is a fictional character from the Marvel Comics universe. She is a mutant with telepathic abilities and has been a prominent member of the X-Men team.
Betsy Ross is a fictional character from the animated series The Fairly OddParents. She is a supporting character who is known for her role as a historical figure in the show's various episodes.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Betsy, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Betsy. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Betsy was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Betsy has ranked as high as #422 nationally, which occurred in 1959, and has been most popular in New York, Pennsylvania, California, North Carolina, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Betsy has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Betsy is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Betsy was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Betsy (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| PA | 7 | |
| TN | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Betsy.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 75 |
| 2023 | 77 |
| 2022 | 85 |
| 2021 | 67 |
| 2020 | 88 |
| 2019 | 92 |
| 2018 | 94 |
| 2017 | 96 |
| 2016 | 106 |
| 2015 | 125 |
| 2014 | 134 |
| 2013 | 134 |
| 2012 | 138 |
| 2011 | 130 |
| 2010 | 154 |
| 2009 | 160 |
| 2008 | 219 |
| 2007 | 247 |
| 2006 | 370 |
| 2005 | 119 |
| 2004 | 153 |
| 2003 | 133 |
| 2002 | 123 |
| 2001 | 124 |
| 2000 | 157 |
| 1999 | 153 |
| 1998 | 173 |
| 1997 | 171 |
| 1996 | 158 |
| 1995 | 170 |
| 1994 | 186 |
| 1993 | 233 |
| 1992 | 237 |
| 1991 | 252 |
| 1990 | 281 |
| 1989 | 301 |
| 1988 | 339 |
| 1987 | 404 |
| 1986 | 354 |
| 1985 | 399 |
| 1984 | 455 |
| 1983 | 401 |
| 1982 | 421 |
| 1981 | 448 |
| 1980 | 536 |
| 1979 | 530 |
| 1978 | 472 |
| 1977 | 470 |
| 1976 | 613 |
| 1975 | 512 |
| 1974 | 489 |
| 1973 | 549 |
| 1972 | 634 |
| 1971 | 700 |
| 1970 | 492 |
| 1969 | 414 |
| 1968 | 479 |
| 1967 | 535 |
| 1966 | 698 |
| 1965 | 932 |
| 1964 | 1,026 |
| 1963 | 1,078 |
| 1962 | 1,012 |
| 1961 | 1,132 |
| 1960 | 1,252 |
| 1959 | 1,390 |
| 1958 | 1,288 |
| 1957 | 1,097 |
| 1956 | 1,066 |
| 1955 | 984 |
| 1954 | 1,003 |
| 1953 | 986 |
| 1952 | 976 |
| 1951 | 881 |
| 1950 | 890 |
| 1949 | 769 |
| 1948 | 719 |
| 1947 | 847 |
| 1946 | 696 |
| 1945 | 651 |
| 1944 | 670 |
| 1943 | 665 |
| 1942 | 706 |
| 1941 | 650 |
| 1940 | 607 |
| 1939 | 513 |
| 1938 | 480 |
| 1937 | 450 |
| 1936 | 384 |
| 1935 | 384 |
| 1934 | 357 |
| 1933 | 323 |
| 1932 | 350 |
| 1931 | 327 |
| 1930 | 361 |
| 1929 | 341 |
| 1928 | 317 |
| 1927 | 283 |
| 1926 | 262 |
| 1925 | 284 |
| 1924 | 236 |
| 1923 | 217 |
| 1922 | 228 |
| 1921 | 200 |
| 1920 | 183 |
| 1919 | 145 |
| 1918 | 178 |
| 1917 | 112 |
| 1916 | 108 |
| 1915 | 77 |
| 1914 | 79 |
| 1913 | 49 |
| 1912 | 27 |
| 1911 | 30 |
| 1910 | 36 |
| 1909 | 25 |
| 1908 | 24 |
| 1907 | 19 |
| 1906 | 17 |
| 1905 | 17 |
| 1904 | 15 |
| 1903 | 11 |
| 1902 | 21 |
| 1901 | 16 |
| 1900 | 24 |
| 1899 | 14 |
| 1898 | 17 |
| 1897 | 10 |
| 1896 | 14 |
| 1895 | 17 |
| 1894 | 26 |
| 1893 | 17 |
| 1892 | 27 |
| 1891 | 18 |
| 1890 | 13 |
| 1889 | 15 |
| 1888 | 22 |
| 1887 | 19 |
| 1886 | 20 |
| 1885 | 13 |
| 1884 | 19 |
| 1883 | 13 |
| 1882 | 18 |
| 1881 | 13 |
| 1880 | 14 |