The first name Betsy

In 2025, 278 girls were named Betsy, making it the 177th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2015, with 420 births (#135).

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Betsy with other names.

In 2025, 63 girls born in the United States were named Betsy, the 2,724th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1959, when 1,390 were.

US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

• Betsy DeVos
  American politician and philanthropist (born 1958)
• Betsy Blair
  American actress (1923–2009)
• Betsy Brandt
  American actress (born 1973)
• Betsy Russell
  American actress, born 1963
• Betsy Ross
  American upholsterer who was credited by her relatives with making the first American flag, 1752–1836
• Betsy Palmer
  American actress (1926–2015)
• Betsy Drake
  American actress and writer (1923–2015)
• Betsy Jolas
  French composer (born 1926)
• Betsy Snite
  Alpine skier (1938-1984)
• Betsy Rue
  American actress, born 1979
• Betsy Beard
  American coxswain, born 1961
• Betsy Brantley
  American actress, born 1955

What does the name Betsy mean?

From the clipping of Elizabeth + -sy (hypocoristic suffix).

How popular is the name Betsy?

In 2025, 278 girls born in England and Wales were named Betsy, ranking 177th. Its peak was 2015, with 420 births.

Is Betsy a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 48,957 US babies named Betsy since 1880 were girls.

When was Betsy most popular?

1959 in the United States, when 1,390 babies were named Betsy, its highest rank at 228th.