Betsy Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Betsy is a diminutive of Elizabeth, originating from the Hebrew name Elisheba, meaning 'God is my oath.' It evolved through historical forms like Elisheba and Elizabeth before becoming popular as Betsy in the 18th century. The name carries a warm and friendly image today, with noteworthy figures like Betsy Ross and Betsy DeVos contributing to its recognition.
The name Betsy is most popular in North Carolina, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Betsy has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Betsy' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 6773rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 7552nd out of 7552 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 555th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 299th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 268th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 395th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 646th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1288th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2007th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Betsy' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Betsy"
Pronunciation
/ˈbɛtsi/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
Betsy is a diminutive form of Elizabeth, which comes from the Hebrew name Elisheba, meaning 'God is my oath.'
Meaning
God is my oath
Language Evolution
Elisheba, Elizabeth, Betsy
Biblical Background
The name has biblical roots, as Elisheba is mentioned in the Old Testament as the wife of Aaron.
Historical Usage
Betsy gained popularity in the 18th century as a common pet name for Elizabeth, especially in English-speaking countries.
Variants & Derivatives
Betty, Bette, Liz, Lizzie
Modern Popularity & Image
Betsy is perceived as a charming and vintage name, often associated with warmth and friendliness, though it is less common in recent years.
Famous People
Betsy Ross, the American seamstress who is said to have created the first American flag., Betsy DeVos, a prominent American politician and businesswoman.
Explore More Betsy Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Betsy"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Betsy"
"Betsy" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 6773rd of 6773 | 5 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 7552nd of 7552 | 5 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 555th of 9107 | 2,899 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 299th of 9204 | 8,536 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 268th of 12526 | 19,092 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 395th of 19264 | 9,055 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 646th of 27321 | 5,039 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1288th of 35406 | 2,724 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2007th of 30306 | 1,173 |
Regional Popularity of "Betsy" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Betsy" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
36.86% 522nd/1416 |
31.04% 428th/1379 |
22.87% 541st/2366 |
35.73% 408th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
21.28% 329th/1546 |
15.36% 239th/1556 |
13.09% 308th/2353 |
23.21% 359th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
11.72% 261st/2227 |
8.31% 202nd/2430 |
10.13% 289th/2853 |
13.77% 382nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
11.41% 335th/2937 |
9.07% 316th/3483 |
12.31% 433rd/3518 |
15.03% 608th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
13.13% 484th/3685 |
13.81% 618th/4475 |
14.32% 744th/5194 |
13.11% 828th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
32.41% 1485th/4582 |
28.87% 1491st/5164 |
19.55% 1430th/7313 |
13.88% 1036th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
58.43% 2328th/3984 |
45.89% 2059th/4487 |
32.28% 2202nd/6822 |
31.99% 2008th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Betsy"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Betsy" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.