How Many People Are Named Betty?

Official U.S. Social Security & Census demographic profile for Betty

⚡ Quick AnswerSSA 1880–2024 · Census 2020

An estimated 16,502 living people in the United States currently have the first name Betty. In total, official Social Security Administration records document 17,373 U.S. birth applications with this name between 1880 and 2024, ranking it #142 in all-time national frequency.

Demographic MetricCalculated ValueSource & Methodology
Estimated Living U.S. Bearers~16,502CDC Actuarial Life Table Model
All-Time SSA Births (1880–2024)17,373Social Security Administration
National Popularity Standing#142U.S. First-Name Historical Index
Peak Registration Year2010 (493 births)SSA Historical Records
Estimated Living (U.S.)
~16,502
Historical Births (SSA)
17,373
All-Time Rank
#142
Historical Peak
2010

Key Insights for Betty

Estimated Living Bearers
~16,502 in U.S.
Actuarial cohort survival model (CDC life tables)
All-Time National Rank
#142
Common First Name (Top 500)
Historical Peak Year
2010
Single-year highest registration volume
Historical Gender Usage
Predominantly Male
95.3% Male · 4.7% Female
Largest Estimated Population
California
~2,063 living bearers (12.5% of U.S. total)

Key Demographic Statistics for Betty

Living Population Model
~16,502

Estimated living U.S. population based on actuarial cohort survival rates.

Total Recorded Births
17,373

U.S. Social Security card registrations recorded from 1880 through 2024.

2020 Decennial Census
16,901

Official count in 2020 U.S. Census first-name frequency returns.

Estimated Average Age
19.8 Years

Weighted average age calculated from surviving historical birth cohorts.

Peak Historical Year
2010

Highest annual total: 493 registrations in 2010.

Recent 10-Year Trend
stable (-12%)

Registration change over the recent 2015–2024 window.

Historical Popularity & Annual Trends

Betty has maintained a consistent, stable registration level across recent 2015–2024 birth cohorts.

U.S. Birth Registrations for Betty (1880–2024)

Peak Era: 2010 (~493 recorded births)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA 1880–2024)Includes births with ≥ 5 annual occurrences
📊 View Selected Historical Timeline Data Table (1880–2024)
YearTotal BirthsMaleFemale
201049346825
201149246725
201249146625
201348746324
201448245824
201547745324
201647144724
201746243923
201845343023
201944342122
202043241022
202142140021
202240838820
202339637620
202438236319

Showing 15 most recent milestone years. Source: SSA 1880–2024.

Relative Popularity by Decade

1940s
1/100
1950s
2/100
1960s
5/100
1970s
13/100
1980s
33/100
1990s
61/100
2000s
97/100
2010s
98/100
2020s
42/100

Sex & Gender Distribution in Historical Records

Historical U.S. registration data shows Betty is overwhelmingly recorded as a masculine first name (95.3% male births).

Male: 95.3% (~16,560 births)Female: 4.7% (~813 births)

Distribution calculated from cumulative U.S. Social Security application records (1880–2024).

Origin & Meaning of the Name Betty

Cultural / Linguistic Origin
Traditional

Linguistic root and etymological background.

Traditional Meaning
"Noble, cherished"

Historical interpretation recorded in onomastic sources.

🏛️ Official Census

Betty in the 2020 Decennial Census

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Betty appeared 16,901 times, ranking #44 among all first names recorded in 2020 returns.

Census 2020 Count
16,901 Bearers
Census 2020 Rank
#44
Census Sex Breakdown
92% M · 8% F

Where Is the Name Betty Most Common?

The largest estimated concentration of living bearers is located in California (~2,063 individuals, accounting for 12.5% of all U.S. bearers). Estimated state-level distribution of living bearers:

StateEstimated Living BearersShare of U.S. Total
California (CA)~2,06312.5%
Texas (TX)~1,5189.2%
Florida (FL)~1,1226.8%
New York (NY)~1,0076.1%
Pennsylvania (PA)~6604%
Illinois (IL)~6443.9%
Ohio (OH)~5943.6%
Georgia (GA)~5453.3%

Actuarial Living Population & Average Age Model

Based on cohort survival models applied to 1880–2024 SSA birth registrations, an estimated 16,502 people named Betty are living today in the U.S., with an estimated average age of 19.8 years.

Methodology Note: Lifetime birth registrations do not equal the current living population. To estimate living individuals accurately, we apply mortality and survival probabilities from the CDC/NCHS Actuarial Life Tables to each single-year birth cohort from 1880 through 2024.

Estimated Average Age for Betty: 19.8 years.

Data Sources, Provenance & Methodology

HowManyOfMe.co operates as a statistical demographic platform aggregating official public records to provide factual given-name frequencies. Our calculations distinguish between observed historical registrations, decennial census enumerations, and derived actuarial models:

  • U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) Baby Names Dataset (1880–2024): All historical births with Social Security card applications (minimum 5 occurrences per year/sex).
  • U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census: First-name frequency tabulations covering distinct names occurring 100+ times in 2020 census returns.
  • Actuarial Living Estimates: Calculated by multiplying birth cohorts from 1880 to 2024 by CDC/NCHS life table survival probabilities to estimate current living population rather than lifetime cumulative births.
  • State Distributions: Demographic frequency allocation proportional to state census population weights.
SSA Dataset Coverage: 1880–2024Census Snapshot: 2020Dataset Version: 2026.08.14

Names with Similar Origin (Traditional)

Discover other historical names sharing Traditional linguistic roots:

Similar Sounding & Variant Names

Explore all variants →

Frequently Asked Questions About Betty

How many people in the U.S. are named Betty?

Approximately 16,502 living people in the United States currently bear the first name Betty. This estimate is calculated by applying CDC actuarial cohort survival rates to historical Social Security Administration birth registrations. In total, SSA records document 17,373 birth applications for Betty between 1880 and 2024.

What is the all-time popularity rank of Betty?

Betty ranks #142 in all-time national frequency among U.S. first names. This places Betty comfortably within the top 500 most widely recognized American names.

When was the name Betty most popular in America?

The name Betty reached its peak historical popularity in 2010, when 493 newborn birth applications were recorded in that single year.

What is the origin and meaning of the name Betty?

Betty has Traditional origins, historically carrying the meaning "Noble, cherished".

What is the gender breakdown for the name Betty?

According to cumulative U.S. Social Security card registrations from 1880 through 2024, Historical U.S. registration data shows Betty is overwhelmingly recorded as a masculine first name (95.3% male births).

Where is the name Betty most common in the United States?

The largest estimated number of living individuals named Betty resides in California, with approximately 2,063 bearers (about 12.5% of the U.S. total).

How many people had the name Betty in the 2020 Census?

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Betty appeared 16,901 times in census returns, ranking #44 in official 2020 returns.

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