Betty
/ˈbɛti/noun
A female given name, or a familiar term for a woman; also a type of hand lantern.
Did you know?Betty began as a medieval pet form of Elizabeth, and in English it also became the name of a small lantern—proof that names can turn into objects and back again.
Etymological Timeline
Hebrew Bible
Hebrew
Elisheva
“A Hebrew name meaning 'my God is an oath' or 'God is abundance.'”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Elisabet
“The Greek form of the biblical name used in early Christian tradition.”
Latin
Latin
Elisabeth
“The Latin biblical form of the name.”
Middle English
English
Bet(e)
“A pet form of Elizabeth used as a familiar female name.”
16th Century
English
betty
“A familiar female name; later also a small hand lantern.”
Modern English
English
Betty
“A common female given name and occasional noun for a woman or a lantern.”