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.
- #4,071 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 2,481
- born since 1884
- 1940s
- peak 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.
- #4,071 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 2,481 born since 1884
- 1940s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Betsey ranks #4,071 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 2,481 born since 1884, peaking in the 1940s.
- #4,071 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 2,481
- born since 1884
- 1940s
- peak decade
Betsey's 2,481 recorded births place it above 94.37% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
7 jurisdictions carry state-level records, led by New York.
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 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
1940s is the heaviest window (495 births, 20% of the file).
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 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% |
189 of 2,481 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 7 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Betsey? ▼
Where does Betsey sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Betsey most popular? ▼
Where is Betsey most popular? ▼
How long has the name Betsey been used? ▼
What names are similar to Betsey? ▼
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
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
Compare Betsey side by side: Betsey vs Betty Betsey vs Beth Betsey vs Bethany
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Betsey: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1942)
Similar record span (~138 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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).
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 August 2026.