Holding steady.
Popularity of Bettymae since 1920
Babies named Bettymae per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1920s | 117 |
| 1930s | 13 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Bettymae is a compound name formed from Betty and Mae, reflecting a naming trend in early 20th century America where parents paired common nicknames with short middle names like Mae or Lee. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1920 and reached its peak in 1926. Although never entering the top 1000, it saw modest use primarily in the 1920s and has remained stable in extremely low numbers since. The double-name style evokes a vintage charm, reminiscent of an era when names like Dorothy Mae and Betty Jean were popular.
Bettymae is a compound of two English names. Betty originated as a diminutive of Elizabeth, which came from the Hebrew Elisheba, meaning "God is my oath" or "God is abundance." Mae, often used as a middle name or suffix, is a variant of May, which can refer to the month (from the Roman goddess Maia) or be a diminutive of Mary. The combination became popular in the early 20th century in the United States, reflecting a trend of pairing common diminutives with Mae or Lee.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Betty, Mae, Betsy
Variants: Betty Mae, Betty-Mae
Sibling names for Bettymae
Names that share Bettymae's style, for a brother or sister.
