Betty
#1,113 for girls in 2025, 212 births · Last seen for boys in 1988 at #6,426
Given to girls 99.6% of the time
Showing
- Peak · girls
- 1930 · 38,240 births
- Debut · girls
- 117 births
- In top 100 · girls
- 61 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 1,001,238since 1880
Betty over time
girls
Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #1,113 | 212 | — | |
| 2024 | #1,012 | 253 | — | |
| 2023 | #1,186 | 202 | — | |
| 2022 | #1,157 | 210 | — | |
| 2021 | #1,187 | 205 | — | |
| 2020 | #1,173 | 198 | — | |
| 2019 | #1,377 | 163 | — | |
| 2018 | #1,130 | 216 | — | |
| 2017 | #1,317 | 177 | — | |
| 2016 | #1,327 | 179 | — | |
| 2015 | #1,266 | 192 | — | |
| 2014 | #1,240 | 196 | — | |
| 2013 | #1,321 | 177 | — | |
| 2012 | #1,552 | 141 | — | |
| 2011 | #1,372 | 167 | — | |
| 2010 | #1,593 | 136 | — | |
| 2009 | #1,516 | 150 | — | |
| 2008 | #1,605 | 141 | — | |
| 2007 | #1,645 | 135 | — | |
| 2006 | #1,567 | 138 | — | |
| 2005 | #1,525 | 135 | — | |
| 2004 | #1,453 | 140 | — | |
| 2003 | #1,365 | 148 | — | |
| 2002 | #1,480 | 129 | — | |
| 2001 | #1,277 | 154 | — | |
| 2000 | #1,150 | 176 | — | |
| 1999 | #1,088 | 183 | — | |
| 1998 | #1,010 | 197 | — | |
| 1997 | #1,019 | 189 | — | |
| 1996 | #904 | 217 | — | |
| 1995 | #830 | 236 | — | |
| 1994 | #751 | 276 | — | |
| 1993 | #725 | 292 | — | |
| 1992 | #722 | 296 | — | |
| 1991 | #642 | 346 | — | |
| 1990 | #572 | 406 | — | |
| 1989 | #561 | 399 | — | |
| 1988 | #552 | 395 | #6,426 | 6 |
| 1987 | #497 | 436 | #6,951 | 5 |
| 1986 | #510 | 408 | — | |
| 1985 | #437 | 502 | #6,523 | 5 |
| 1984 | #423 | 504 | — | |
| 1983 | #390 | 564 | #5,484 | 6 |
| 1982 | #364 | 635 | — | |
| 1981 | #354 | 662 | #4,961 | 7 |
| 1980 | #358 | 658 | — | |
| 1979 | #331 | 710 | — | |
| 1978 | #321 | 714 | — | |
| 1977 | #293 | 808 | #5,845 | 5 |
| 1976 | #262 | 908 | #4,935 | 6 |
| 1975 | #237 | 1,021 | #3,941 | 8 |
| 1974 | #228 | 1,131 | #3,318 | 10 |
| 1973 | #196 | 1,322 | #2,513 | 15 |
| 1972 | #204 | 1,364 | — | |
| 1971 | #175 | 1,764 | #3,146 | 10 |
| 1970 | #169 | 1,966 | #3,521 | 8 |
| 1969 | #154 | 2,135 | #2,308 | 14 |
| 1968 | #153 | 2,133 | #1,836 | 19 |
| 1967 | #137 | 2,543 | #2,242 | 13 |
| 1966 | #121 | 2,946 | #1,723 | 20 |
| 1965 | #103 | 3,566 | #1,856 | 18 |
| 1964 | #102 | 4,070 | #2,114 | 15 |
| 1963 | #104 | 4,156 | #2,200 | 14 |
| 1962 | #97 | 4,763 | #2,117 | 15 |
| 1961 | #87 | 5,584 | #2,148 | 15 |
| 1960 | #68 | 6,501 | #1,486 | 29 |
| 1959 | #59 | 7,313 | #1,709 | 22 |
| 1958 | #54 | 7,715 | #1,396 | 31 |
| 1957 | #50 | 8,479 | #1,411 | 31 |
| 1956 | #44 | 9,218 | #1,317 | 34 |
| 1955 | #36 | 9,924 | #1,682 | 21 |
| 1954 | #36 | 10,620 | #1,242 | 36 |
| 1953 | #33 | 11,369 | #1,508 | 25 |
| 1952 | #32 | 12,129 | #1,152 | 41 |
| 1951 | #29 | 12,822 | #1,150 | 39 |
| 1950 | #26 | 13,615 | #1,289 | 31 |
| 1949 | #22 | 14,936 | #1,205 | 35 |
| 1948 | #18 | 16,625 | #1,079 | 43 |
| 1947 | #17 | 18,966 | #1,081 | 45 |
| 1946 | #14 | 19,711 | #980 | 47 |
| 1945 | #11 | 18,387 | #782 | 62 |
| 1944 | #10 | 19,761 | #720 | 74 |
| 1943 | #10 | 21,596 | #677 | 89 |
| 1942 | #9 | 21,659 | #591 | 111 |
| 1941 | #7 | 20,905 | #535 | 121 |
| 1940 | #5 | 22,077 | #550 | 115 |
| 1939 | #4 | 23,639 | #498 | 130 |
| 1938 | #4 | 25,506 | #551 | 110 |
| 1937 | #5 | 25,337 | #523 | 122 |
| 1936 | #4 | 25,868 | #529 | 116 |
| 1935 | #4 | 28,674 | #461 | 151 |
| 1934 | #2 | 31,089 | #430 | 170 |
| 1933 | #2 | 31,531 | #442 | 156 |
| 1932 | #2 | 34,420 | #429 | 169 |
| 1931 | #2 | 36,105 | #459 | 151 |
| 1930 | #2 | 38,240 | #476 | 156 |
| 1929 | #2 | 36,675 | #510 | 133 |
| 1928 | #2 | 36,083 | #560 | 119 |
| 1927 | #3 | 35,424 | #607 | 105 |
| 1926 | #3 | 32,964 | #660 | 91 |
| 1925 | #3 | 32,812 | #703 | 84 |
| 1924 | #4 | 30,600 | #817 | 68 |
| 1923 | #5 | 25,989 | #913 | 56 |
| 1922 | #6 | 20,895 | #1,222 | 35 |
| 1921 | #8 | 17,638 | #1,178 | 37 |
| 1920 | #11 | 14,016 | #1,505 | 25 |
| 1919 | #15 | 10,106 | #1,752 | 19 |
| 1918 | #21 | 8,803 | #1,648 | 21 |
| 1917 | #34 | 6,639 | #2,732 | 9 |
| 1916 | #44 | 5,136 | #2,926 | 8 |
| 1915 | #53 | 4,181 | #2,310 | 11 |
| 1914 | #62 | 2,933 | #2,101 | 10 |
| 1913 | #67 | 2,240 | #2,496 | 6 |
| 1912 | #66 | 2,011 | — | |
| 1911 | #69 | 1,456 | — | |
| 1910 | #69 | 1,389 | #1,589 | 5 |
| 1909 | #77 | 1,082 | #1,440 | 5 |
| 1908 | #72 | 1,128 | #1,113 | 7 |
| 1907 | #77 | 1,018 | #1,345 | 5 |
| 1906 | #81 | 865 | — | |
| 1905 | #85 | 807 | #1,233 | 5 |
| 1904 | #91 | 707 | #874 | 8 |
| 1903 | #98 | 596 | — | |
| 1902 | #101 | 580 | — | |
| 1901 | #112 | 473 | — | |
| 1900 | #100 | 665 | — | |
| 1899 | #119 | 410 | — | |
| 1898 | #126 | 421 | — | |
| 1897 | #132 | 367 | — | |
| 1896 | #139 | 342 | — | |
| 1895 | #131 | 350 | — | |
| 1894 | #144 | 298 | — | |
| 1893 | #139 | 298 | — | |
| 1892 | #155 | 255 | — | |
| 1891 | #146 | 239 | — | |
| 1890 | #164 | 216 | — | |
| 1889 | #159 | 189 | — | |
| 1888 | #148 | 214 | — | |
| 1887 | #144 | 178 | — | |
| 1886 | #147 | 167 | — | |
| 1885 | #144 | 155 | — | |
| 1884 | #149 | 144 | — | |
| 1883 | #150 | 120 | — | |
| 1882 | #144 | 123 | — | |
| 1881 | #140 | 112 | — | |
| 1880 | #136 | 117 | — | |
First appearance
1880
In the first year the SSA published name data, Betty was already there! It came in at #136, and was given to 117 baby girls.
Quietest stretch: 1880–1886, when fewer than 170 girls a year got the name.
Where Betty is popular in 1981
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
Top states · girls
- Mississippi#164 · 1 in 754
- Kentucky#164 · 1 in 853
- North Carolina#205 · 1 in 1,105
- Tennessee#213 · 1 in 1,213
- West Virginia#219 · 1 in 1,280
Best ever in a state: #1 in Washington, 1923.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | #164 | 28 | 1 in 853 |
| Mississippi | #164 | 21 | 1 in 754 |
| North Carolina | #205 | 30 | 1 in 1,105 |
| Tennessee | #213 | 23 | 1 in 1,213 |
| West Virginia | #219 | 9 | 1 in 1,280 |
| South Carolina | #231 | 14 | 1 in 1,281 |
| Maryland | #240 | 15 | 1 in 1,397 |
| Alabama | #241 | 17 | 1 in 1,337 |
| Arkansas | #244 | 9 | 1 in 1,413 |
| Ohio | #246 | 42 | 1 in 1,720 |
| Indiana | #272 | 18 | 1 in 1,939 |
| Virginia | #276 | 17 | 1 in 1,768 |
| Louisiana | #278 | 20 | 1 in 1,531 |
| Florida | #293 | 30 | 1 in 1,803 |
| Oklahoma | #301 | 11 | 1 in 1,827 |
| Michigan | #304 | 27 | 1 in 2,172 |
| Texas | #313 | 69 | 1 in 1,793 |
| Georgia | #332 | 16 | 1 in 2,176 |
| Oregon | #338 | 8 | 1 in 2,121 |
| New York | #380 | 40 | 1 in 2,533 |
| Missouri | #403 | 10 | 1 in 3,208 |
| Illinois | #414 | 25 | 1 in 3,006 |
| Arizona | #417 | 8 | 1 in 2,494 |
| California | #427 | 69 | 1 in 2,627 |
| Pennsylvania | #516 | 15 | 1 in 4,623 |
| Washington | #546 | 7 | 1 in 3,944 |
| Minnesota | #550 | 5 | 1 in 5,820 |
| New Jersey | #638 | 7 | 1 in 5,324 |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Colorado | — | — | — |
| Connecticut | — | — | — |
| Delaware | — | — | — |
| District of Columbia | — | — | — |
| Hawaii | — | — | — |
| Idaho | — | — | — |
| Iowa | — | — | — |
| Kansas | — | — | — |
| Maine | — | — | — |
| Massachusetts | — | — | — |
| Montana | — | — | — |
| Nebraska | — | — | — |
| Nevada | — | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — |
| New Mexico | — | — | — |
| North Dakota | — | — | — |
| Rhode Island | — | — | — |
| South Dakota | — | — | — |
| Utah | — | — | — |
| Vermont | — | — | — |
| Wisconsin | — | — | — |
| Wyoming | — | — | — |
Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.
See more about Betty
Momentum · girls
Holding steady
- 101 spots since 2024 (#1,012 → #1,113)
- 60 spots since 2020 (#1,173 → #1,113)
- 153 spots since 2015 (#1,266 → #1,113)
- Biggest jump: 19 spots in 1900 (#119 → #100)
- Biggest drop: 115 spots in 1997 (#904 → #1,019)
Rise & fade · girls
50 yrs to peak
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1930 at #2 (38,240 births)
- Births halved by 1945, 15 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 10 for 24 yrs
- Top 10: 24 yrs · run 1921–1944
- Top 100: 61 yrs · run 1903–1962
- Top 1,000: 117 yrs · run 1880–1996
Share of babies · girls
1 in 29
- Highest: 1 in 29 girls born in 1930 were named Betty (3.4%)
- Latest: 1 in 7,581 girls born in 2025 (0.01%)
Era · girls
The 1930s
- 30.0% of all girls named Betty (300,409) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 1,519 | #136 (1880) | #146 |
| 1890s | 3,196 | #119 (1899) | #140 |
| 1900s | 7,921 | #72 (1908) | #89 |
| 1910s | 44,894 | #15 (1919) | #50 |
| 1920s | 283,096 | #2 (1929) | #5 |
| 1930s | 300,409 | #2 (1930) | #3 |
| 1940s | 194,623 | #5 (1940) | #12 |
| 1950s | 103,204 | #26 (1950) | #40 |
| 1960s | 38,397 | #68 (1960) | #113 |
| 1970s | 11,708 | #169 (1970) | #242 |
| 1980s | 5,163 | #354 (1981) | #445 |
| 1990s | 2,638 | #572 (1990) | #826 |
| 2000s | 1,446 | #1,150 (2000) | #1,458 |
| 2010s | 1,744 | #1,130 (2018) | #1,350 |
| 2020s | 1,280 | #1,012 (2024) | #1,138 |
All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.
Betty in 1981
girls
#354
662 births · 1 in 2,520 girls
boys
#4,961
7 births · 1 in 255,882 boys
Top girls' names in 1981
Top boys' names in 1981
More about 1981
girls
1,668,060 girls got a published name in 1981; 1 in 2,520 of them was named Betty, which outranked 97.1% of the 12,198 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
boys
1,791,177 boys got a published name in 1981; 1 in 255,882 of them was named Betty, which outranked 31.9% of the 7,289 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.6% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).