Total births
1,390
Girls' name · since 1916
Bettylou
Since 1916, U.S. Social Security records show 1,390 babies named Bettylou, peaking in 1927. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 1,390
- total births
- 1916–2015
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 34%
- born in that decade
Bettylou is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 1,390 have been recorded since 1916.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Bettylou has been recorded 1,390 times among girls since 1916, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1920s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1916 to 2015.
- 1,390 total births
- 1916–2015 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 34% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
1,390 girls have been named Bettylou since 1916, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 2015.
- 1,390
- total births
- 1916–2015
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 34%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
34% of everyone ever named Bettylou was born in this single decade.
1927
Single peak year
81 babies were named Bettylou in 1927 - its busiest year on record.
Bettylou's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Bettylou's SSA record in two at 1941 and the more recent half accounts for 30% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 70%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1955, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1927 peak of 81, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Bettylou at a glance
Last recorded 2015Peak year
1927
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1916
Bettylou popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1916–2015
- Peak year (1927)
- 81
- Annual births at peak, across 100 years of records
Bettylou by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Bettylou's strongest decade.
473 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 34% of all-time use.
Bettylou births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 37
1910s
37 births
- 1920s
1920s
473 births
- 1930s
1930s
431 births
- 1940s
1940s
302 births
- 1950s 92
1950s
92 births
- 1960s 49
1960s
49 births
- 2010s 6
2010s
6 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 473 births (34% of all-time use).
How Bettylou 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 Bettylou's total volume
Bettylou vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Bettylou by state
Where Bettylou concentrates geographically, total births since 1916
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Illinois | | 75 | 5.4% |
| #2 | New York | | 63 | 4.5% |
| #3 | Minnesota | | 61 | 4.4% |
| #4 | Pennsylvania | | 44 | 3.2% |
| #5 | Ohio | | 32 | 2.3% |
| #6 | Wisconsin | | 21 | 1.5% |
| #7 | New Jersey | | 20 | 1.4% |
| #8 | California | | 12 | 0.9% |
Illinois share of Bettylou's total US births 5.4%
Even split
75 of 1,390 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 10 reporting states.
Bettylou appears in 10 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Bettylou? ▼
Since 1916, Social Security records show 1,390 babies named Bettylou. The most recent recorded year was 2015. Its busiest year on record was 1927, with 81 births.
When was Bettylou most popular? ▼
Bettylou was most popular in the 1920s decade with 473 total births. The single peak year was 1927.
Where is Bettylou most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Bettylou are Illinois (75 births), New York (63 births), Minnesota (61 births).
How long has the name Bettylou been used? ▼
Records for Bettylou go back to 1916, giving 100 years of history through 2015.
What names are similar to Bettylou? ▼
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 Bettylou's data
- Bettylou's decade-level peak was the 1920s (473 total births); usage has since declined to 6 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Illinois records the most Bettylous (75 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Illinois 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 Bettylou
Nearby Names Like Bettylou
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Bettylou
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 Bettylou side by side: Bettylou vs Betty Bettylou vs Beth Bettylou vs Bethany
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 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, 1916–2015 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Bettylou: Baby Name Since 1916 - 1,390 Births, Peak 1927." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/bettylou. 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 Bettylou 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 June 2026.