Betsy

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Betsy

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Betsy is an English diminutive for Elizabeth. Elizabeth is the English form of the Hebrew name, Elisheva, or Elisheba. Originally it meant “My God is Bountiful,” “God of Plenty,” “Consecrated to God,” “Oath of God,” “God is Satisfaction,” or “God is Perfection.”

History:
Betsy is an English diminutive, derived from the medieval nickname, Bet (short for Elizabeth). In the United States, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Betsy replaced Betty as the favorite diminutive for Elizabeth. However, by the late 19th century, Betsy had been superseded by Bessie (which was later replaced by Betty in the 1910s).

Betsy was common again in the mid-20th century

Please see Elizabeth for more information.

Pronunciation: bet-see.

Alternates: Betsey, Betsie.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Betsy Jolas (1926-)
French composer.
Betsy Byars (1928-)
American author.

Fictional Characters:
Betsey Trotwood
David’s great-aunt in Charles Dickens’ 1849 novel DavidCopperfield.

Miscellaneous:
Betsy Ross (Elizabeth Griscom Ross) (1752-1836)
American seamstress. Previously believed to have sewn the first American Flag.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.034 % named Betsy
0.002 % named Betsey

Popularity of Betsy:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1800: 24th most popular.
1850: 101st most popular.
1875: 187th most popular.
1900-1910: 860th most popular.
1910-1920: 854th most popular.
1920-1930: 429th most popular.
1930-1940: 306th most popular.
1940-1950: 287th most popular.
1950-1960: 270th most popular.
1960-1970: 313th most popular.
1970-1980: 383rd most popular.
1980-1990: 530th most popular.
1990: 724th most popular.
1991: 808th most popular.
1992: 854th most popular.
1993: 850th most popular.
1994: 954th most popular.
1995: N/A