Bettie

Meaning of Bettie

Bettie, a feminine given name employed predominantly within Anglo-American contexts, is etymologically derived as a diminutive of Elizabeth—itself originating from the Hebrew Elisheba (“my God is an oath”) via Greek (Elisabet) and Latin (Elisabetha) forms—before entering English usage in the 19th century. Initially achieving moderate prevalence in the United States, it reached its highest recorded rank of approximately 124 in the early 1880s, with some 130 to 140 annual registrations, and thereafter underwent a gradual decline throughout the 20th century. By the late 1900s, Bettie had slipped into the 700s and 800s in national popularity rankings, and contemporary data from 2020 to 2024 confirm its continued rarity, with around 10 to 12 newborns receiving the name each year and a rank near the mid-900s. Pronounced BET-ee (/ˈbɛti/), Bettie offers a concise, historically grounded alternative to its longer progenitor, appealing to those who favour appellations with unembellished phonetic clarity and established heritage.

Pronunciation

English

• Pronunced as BET-ee (/ˈbɛti/)

• Beth
• Betsy
• Betty
• Bettina
• Bette
• Bettye
• Betta