Bettyjo

A girl's name of Hebrew origin with 771 recorded U.S. births.

Girl's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

Bettyjo has 771 recorded U.S. births across 101+ years, peaking at 31 in 1965. It occupies the space between “never heard of it” and “everyone has one in their class” — a name that feels personal without being obscure.

Bettyjo is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.

Bettyjo is a girl's baby name of Hebrew origin, a compound of Betty — a diminutive of Elizabeth, from the Hebrew Elisheba, meaning 'my God is an oath' — and Jo, a short form of Josephine, from the Hebrew Yosef meaning 'God will add.'

Bettyjo exemplifies the double-name tradition that thrived in mid-twentieth-century America, particularly in the South and Midwest. Betty and Jo were each beloved separately; joined, they created a compound that felt both distinctly personal and warmly familiar.

EtymologyShow more

Bettyjo first shows up in U.S. Social Security records in 1920. Its appearance in the 1920s coincides with waves of immigration, cultural exchange, and the early decades of American popular culture — all of which introduced and popularized new names.

Its Hebrew classification suggests a path from hebrew linguistic traditions into American usage, though the specific route — whether through immigration, literature, or cultural exchange — would require deeper historical research.

At a Glance

771

Total births

Since 1920

1965

Peak

31 births

1920

First recorded

102 years of data

Compare Bettyjo with another name

Popularity Over Time

Bettyjo has 67+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1920.

First appeared: 1920Peak: 1965 (31 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Bettyjo
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	5	#15634	—
1990s	5	#13527	▼
1980s	47	#9094	▼
1970s	149	#4415	—
1960s	152	#3663	▲
1950s	95	#4061	▲
1940s	87	#3456	▼
1930s	99	#2698	▼
1920s	132	#2688	—

The Story of Bettyjo

A Gen X name

Peaking in 1965, Bettyjo is a Gen X staple. Girls named Bettyjo are most likely born between 1955 and 1975.

How rare is Bettyjo?

With 771 total births on record, Bettyjo remains a rare and distinctive pick.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1920, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1960s with 152 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Bettyjo by the numbers

Would fill 16 school buses
Meeting one Bettyjo per day would take 2.1 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(67 years, 1920–2021)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Bettyjo
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2021	5	#15634	0
1992	5	#13527	-3 (-37.5%)
1987	8	#8076	+3 (60.0%)
1986	5	#11085	-1 (-16.7%)
1985	6	#9416	+1 (20.0%)
1984	5	#10593	0
1982	5	#10667	-3 (-37.5%)
1981	8	#7466	-2 (-20.0%)
1980	10	#6356	+1 (11.1%)
1979	9	#6742	-3 (-25.0%)
1978	12	#5244	-5 (-29.4%)
1977	17	#4078	+6 (54.5%)
1976	11	#5245	-7 (-38.9%)
1975	18	#3645	+2 (12.5%)
1974	16	#3875	+3 (23.1%)
1973	13	#4381	+1 (8.3%)
1972	12	#4546	-9 (-42.9%)
1971	21	#3176	+1 (5.0%)
1970	20	#3220	+6 (42.9%)
1969	14	#3793	-10 (-41.7%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bettyjo a boy's or girl's name?

Bettyjo is primarily a girl's name.

When was Bettyjo most popular?

Bettyjo reached its peak popularity in 1965 with 31 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Bettyjo?

Bettyjo is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 771 babies in the U.S. since 1920. Its peak was in 1965.

Explore More

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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1920–2021