Total births
2,481
Girls' name · since 1884
Betsey
Since 1884, U.S. Social Security records show 2,481 babies named Betsey, peaking in 1942. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 2,481
- total births
- 1884–2022
- years on record
- 1940s
- peak decade
- 20%
- born in that decade
2,481 girls have been named Betsey since 1884, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Betsey recorded 2,481 times among girls since 1884, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1940s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1884 to 2022.
- 2,481 total births
- 1884–2022 years on record
- 1940s peak decade
- 20% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
2,481 girls have been named Betsey since 1884, peaking in the 1940s, last recorded in 2022.
- 2,481
- total births
- 1884–2022
- years on record
- 1940s
- peak decade
- 20%
- born in that decade
1940s
Peak decade
20% of everyone ever named Betsey was born in this single decade.
1942
Single peak year
62 babies were named Betsey in 1942 - its busiest year on record.
Betsey's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Betsey's SSA record in two at 1953 and the more recent half accounts for 46% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 54%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1884, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1942 peak of 62, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Betsey at a glance
Last recorded 2022Peak year
1942
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1884
Betsey popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1884–2022
- Peak year (1942)
- 62
- Annual births at peak, across 139 years of records
Betsey by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1940s was Betsey's strongest decade.
495 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 20% of all-time use.
Betsey births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 33
1880s
33 births
- 1890s 32
1890s
32 births
- 1900s 27
1900s
27 births
- 1910s 107
1910s
107 births
- 1920s
1920s
230 births
- 1930s
1930s
304 births
- 1940s
1940s
495 births
- 1950s
1950s
393 births
- 1960s
1960s
289 births
- 1970s
1970s
279 births
- 1980s 177
1980s
177 births
- 1990s 36
1990s
36 births
- 2000s 38
2000s
38 births
- 2010s 36
2010s
36 births
- 2020s 5
2020s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1940s at 495 births (20% of all-time use).
How Betsey compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Betsey's total volume
Betsey vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Betsey by state
Where Betsey concentrates geographically, total births since 1884
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York | | 189 | 7.6% |
| #2 | Massachusetts | | 181 | 7.3% |
| #3 | Connecticut | | 29 | 1.2% |
| #4 | Ohio | | 17 | 0.7% |
| #5 | Pennsylvania | | 15 | 0.6% |
| #6 | California | | 6 | 0.2% |
| #7 | New Jersey | | 5 | 0.2% |
New York share of Betsey's total US births 7.6%
Even split
189 of 2,481 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 7 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Betsey? ▼
Since 1884, Social Security records show 2,481 babies named Betsey. The most recent recorded year was 2022. Its busiest year on record was 1942, with 62 births.
When was Betsey most popular? ▼
Betsey was most popular in the 1940s decade with 495 total births. The single peak year was 1942.
Where is Betsey most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Betsey are New York (189 births), Massachusetts (181 births), Connecticut (29 births).
How long has the name Betsey been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Betsey since 1884 -- 139 years through the most recent 2022 data.
What names are similar to Betsey? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Betty, Beth, Bethany, Betsy, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Betsey's data
- Betsey's decade-level peak was the 1940s (495 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- New York records the most Betseys (189 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. New York names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Betsey
Nearby Names Like Betsey
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Betsey
Betty Girl
#1012 1,001,238 births
Beth Girl
#3049 159,430 births
Bethany Girl
#725 100,902 births
Betsy Girl
#2415 48,947 births
Bettie Girl
#8443 38,395 births
Compare Betsey side by side: Betsey vs Betty Betsey vs Beth Betsey vs Bethany
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Caley #15732
2,481 births · Peak 1994
Ainhoa #947
2,481 births · Peak 2019
Benjamin #13577
2,482 births · Peak 1983
Emmerson #2688
2,480 births · Peak 2013
Lucila #5317
2,483 births · Peak 1982
Sarena #7635
2,483 births · Peak 1999
Lovina #4564
2,479 births · Peak 2023
Cleopatra #3402
2,484 births · Peak 1974
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1884–2022 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Betsey: Baby Name Since 1884 - 2,481 Births, Peak 1942." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/betsey. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Betsey draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.