Betty or Bettie is a

name A name is a term used for identification by an external observer. They can identify a class or category of things, or a single thing, either uniquely, or within a given context. The entity identified by a name is called its referent. A person ...

, a common

diminutive A diminutive is a word obtained by modifying a root word to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, either to convey the smallness of the object or quality named, or to convey a sense of intimacy or endearment, and sometimes to belittle s ...

for the

Bethany Bethany (,Murphy-O'Connor, 2008, p152/ref> Syriac language, Syriac: ܒܝܬ ܥܢܝܐ ''Bēṯ ʿAnyā''), locally called in Palestinian Arabic, Arabic Al-Eizariya or al-Aizariya (, "Arabic nouns and adjectives#Nisba,

lace Lace is a delicate fabric made of yarn or thread in an open weblike pattern, made by machine or by hand. Generally, lace is split into two main categories, needlelace and bobbin lace, although there are other types of lace, such as knitted o ...

of Lazarus (name), L ...

and Elizabeth. In Latin America, it is also a common diminutive for the given name Beatriz, the Spanish and Portuguese form of the Latin name

Beatrix Beatrix is a Latin feminine given name, most likely derived from ''Viatrix'', a feminine form of the Late Latin name ''Viator'' which meant "voyager, traveller" and later influenced in spelling by association with the Latin word ''beatus'' or "ble ...

and the English name Beatrice. In the 17th and 18th centuries, it was more often a diminutive of Bethia.

Notable people

Athletes

* Betty Cuthbert (1938–2017), Australian sprinter and Olympic champion * Betty Jameson (1919–2009), American Hall-of-Fame golfer and one of the founders of the LPGA * Betty McKilligan (born 1949), Canadian pairs figure skater * Betty Nuthall (1911–1983), English tennis player * Betty Pariso (born 1956), American bodybuilder * Betty Stöve (born 1945), Dutch tennis player * Betty Ann Grubb Stuart (born 1950), American tennis player * Betty Uber (1906–1983), English badminton and tennis player

Journalists and media personalities

Betty Elizalde Betty Elizalde (January 4, 1940 - November 30, 2018) was an Argentine journalist and broadcaster. She won the Konex Award in 1981. Biography Deolinda Beatriz Bistagnino was born in Argentina, January 4, 1940. Her mother was of Spanish descent and ...

(1940–2018), Argentine journalist and broadcaster * Betty Kennedy (1926–2017), Canadian broadcaster, journalist and author *

Betty Nguyen Betty Nguyen (born September 1, 1974) is an American news anchor, currently WFOR-TV, CBS Miami morning news co-anchor. Nguyen has previously worked for NBC News, MSNBC, CBS News, CNN, and WPIX. Career Nguyen began her career as a morning anchor ...

(born 1974), American news anchor * Betty Willingale (1927-2021), British television producer and script editor

Performing artists and fashion models

* Betty Alberge (1922–1991), British actress * Betty Arvaniti (born 1939), Greek actress *

Betty Boije Betty Natalie Boije af Gennäs (14 February 1822 - 14 November 1854), was a Finnish (originally Swedish) opera and concert singer (contralto) and composer. She was one of eight children of the Swedish nobleman Klas Otto Boije af Gennäs and Mari ...

(1822–1854), Finnish-Swedish contralto and composer *

Betty Boo Alison Moira Clarkson (born 6 March 1970), better known as Betty Boo, is a British Singing, singer, songwriter and Rapping, rapper. She first came to mainstream prominence in the late 1980s following a collaboration with the Beatmasters on th ...

(born 1970), stage name of English singer and songwriter Alison Moira Clarkson *

Betty Bronson Elizabeth Ada Bronson (November 17, 1906 – October 19, 1971) was an American film and television actress who began her career during the silent film era. Early years Bronson was born in Trenton, New Jersey, to Frank and Nellie Smith Bronso ...

(1906–1971), American actress *

Betty Buckley Betty Buckley (born July 3, 1947)LuKanic, Steven A (1995). Film Actors Guide'. Los Angeles, CA: Lone Eagle Publishing. p. 55. . is an American actress and singer. Buckley is the winner of a Tony Award, and was nominated for an additional Ton ...

(born 1947), American actress *

Betty Burbridge Elizabeth Burbridge (December 7, 1895 – September 19, 1987) was an American screenwriter and actress, best known for her Western screenplays. Biography Elizabeth Burbridge was born in San Diego, California, on December 7, 1895, the granddaugh ...

(1895–1987), American actress *

Betty Carter Betty Carter (born Lillie Mae Jones; May 16, 1929 – September 26, 1998) was an American jazz singer known for her improvisational technique, scatting and other complex musical abilities that demonstrated her vocal talent and imaginative inter ...

(Lillie Mae Jones) (1929–1998), American jazz singer *

Betty Cody Betty Cody (born Rita Francis Coté; August 17, 1921 – July 1, 2014) was a Canadian-born country music singer. Her notable singles include the 1952 RCA releases "Tom Tom Yodel" and " I Found Out More Than You Ever Knew", and "Please Throw Away ...

(1921–2014), Canadian-born American country music singer *

Bette Davis Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (; April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress of film, television, and theater. Regarded as one of the greatest actresses in Hollywood history, she was noted for her willingness to play unsympatheti ...

(1908–1989) American actress *

Bettie de Jong Bettie de Jong (born May 1, 1933 in Sumatra, Indonesia) is a Dutch rehearsal director and former lead dancer at the Paul Taylor Dance Company. In November 2007 Bettie de Jong received the Dance Magazine Award to recognize her contributions to dance ...

(born 1933), Dutch rehearsal director and dancer *

Betty Deland Hedvig Kristina Elisabeth "Betty" Deland (14 November 1831 in Örebro – 1 April 1882 in Stockholm) was a Swedish stage actress. She was a principal of the Royal Dramatic Training Academy and belong to the elite of Swedish 19th-century actors. ...

(1831–1882), Swedish actress * Betty Driver (1920–2011), British actress and singer * Betty Everett (1939–2001), American soul singer * Betty Faria (born 1941), Brazilian actress * Betty G, a stage name of an Ethiopian singer and songwriter Bruktawit Getahun * Betty Garrett (1919–2011), American actress, comedian, singer and dancer * Betty Gofman (born 1965), Brazilian actress *

Betty Grable Elizabeth Ruth Grable (December 18, 1916 – July 2, 1973) was an American actress, pin-up girl, dancer, model, and singer. Her 42 films during the 1930s and 1940s grossed more than $100 million, and for 10 consecutive years (1942–1951) she p ...

(1916–1973), American actress, singer, dancer and

pin-up girl A pin-up model is a model whose mass-produced pictures and photographs have wide appeal within the popular culture of a society. Pin-up models are usually glamour, actresses, or fashion models whose pictures are intended for informal and aesth ...

* Betty Harlafti, Greek mezzo-soprano and singer * Betty Harris (born 1939), American soul singer *

Betty Hutton Betty Hutton (born Elizabeth June Thornburg; February 26, 1921 – March 12, 2007) was an American stage, film, and television actress, comedian, dancer, and singer. She rose to fame in the 1940s as a contract player for Paramount Pictures, appea ...

(1921–2007), American actress and singer * Betty Kelly (born 1944), American singer, member of Martha and the Vandellas *

Betty Knox Betty Knox (10 May 1906 – 25 January 1963) was an American dancer and journalist. Her early career was in American vaudeville and British variety as the original ‘Betty’ (1928–1941) of Wilson, Keppel and Betty – a dance trio who performe ...

(Alice Elizabeth Peden) (1906–1963), part of

Wilson, Keppel and Betty Wilson, Keppel and Betty formed a popular British music hall and vaudeville act in the middle decades of the 20th century. They capitalised on the fashion for Ancient Egyptian imagery following the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun. The "Sa ...

, a British music hall and vaudeville act *

Betty Kuuskemaa Marie-Elisabeth "Betty" Kuuskemaa (born Marie-Elisabeth Jõggis, until 1935 Betty Kuuskmann; 28 January 1879 – 19 December 1966) was an Estonian stage and film actress whose long career spanned over sixty years. Early life and education Betty ...

(1879–1966), Estonian actress * Betty Lago (1955–2015), Brazilian actress *

Betty Moschona Betty Moschhona (; 7 March 1927 in Patras – 6 December 2006 in Athens) was a Greece, Greek actress. She received her first role in 1952 with Mimis Kokkinis' company and participated in inspected with different comical roles (Vlachos, Kritikos, ...

(1927–2006), Greek actress *

Bettie Page Bettie Mae Page (April 22, 1923 – December 11, 2008) was an American model who gained notoriety in the 1950s for her pin-up model, pin-up photos.Betty Stockfeld (1905–1966), Australian actress * Betty White (1922–2021), American actress, best known for '' Life with Elizabeth'', ''

The Mary Tyler Moore Show ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (also known simply as ''Mary Tyler Moore'') is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns and starring actress Mary Tyler Moore. The show originally aired on CBS from September 19, 1970 ...

'' and ''

The Golden Girls ''The Golden Girls'' is an American sitcom created by Susan Harris that aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes, spanning seven seasons. The show's ensemble cast stars Beatrice Arthur, Betty ...

'' *

Betty Who Jessica Anne Newham (born 5 October 1991), known by her stage name Betty Who, is an Australian musician and singer. After independently releasing her debut single, "Somebody Loves You (Betty Who song), Somebody Loves You" (2012), and her debut ...

(born 1991), Australian-American singer and musician *

Betty Wright Bessie Regina Norris (December 21, 1953 – May 10, 2020), better known by her stage name Betty Wright, was an American soul music, soul and Rhythm and blues, R&B singer, songwriter and background vocalist. Beginning her professional career ...

(1953–2020), American soul and R&B singer and songwriter * Betty (singer) (born 2003), Armenian child singer

Politicians and activists

Betty Apiafi Betty Jocelyne Okagua - Apiafi (born 19 February 1962) is a Nigerian politician, economist, retired banker and educationist. Apiafi was elected to the Senate of Nigeria, Nigerian Senate for Rivers West Senatorial District in 2019. She has also ...

(born 1962), Nigerian MP and educator * Betty de Boer (born 1971), Dutch politician *

Betty Boothroyd Betty Boothroyd, Baroness Boothroyd (8 October 1929 – 26 February 2023), was a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), member of Parliament (MP) for West Bromwich (UK Parliament constituency), West Bromwich an ...

(1929–2023), British MP and former Speaker of the House of Commons * Betty Croquer, Venezuelan politician * Betty Friedan (1921–2006), American feminist and author of ''The Feminine Mystique'' * Betty Hall (1921–2018), American politician, former Mmmber of the New Hampshire House of Representatives * Bettie Hewes (1924–2001), Canadian politician * Betty Komp (born 1949), American politician, former member of the Oregon House of Representatives * Betty Pickett, American politician, former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives * Betty Ray McCain (1931–2022), American politician *

Betty McCollum Betty Louise McCollum ( ; born July 12, 1954) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for , serving since 2001. She is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). McCollum's district centers on St. Paul, Minnesot ...

(born 1954), American politician, member of the U.S. House of Representatives * Betty Millard (1911–2010), American writer, artist, political activist, philanthropist, feminist * Betty Shabazz (1934–1997), American educator and civil rights advocate, wife of Malcolm X *

Betty Williams (Nobel laureate) Elizabeth Williams ( Smyth; 22 May 1943 – 17 March 2020) was a peace activist from Northern Ireland. She was a co-recipient with Mairead Corrigan of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976 for her work as a cofounder of Community of Peace People, ...

(1943–2020), North Irish peace activist * Betty Williams (politician) (born 1944), Welsh politician and MP

Scientists and technologists

* Betty Lou Bailey (1929–2007), American mechanical engineer * Betty Johnson (physicist), American physicist * Betty Lindsay (1897–1953), Scottish civil engineer

Visual artists

* Bettie Cilliers-Barnard (1914–2010), South African abstract artist * Betty Curnow (1911–2005), New Zealand painter and printmaker * Betty Isaacs (1894–1971), Australian born, New Zealand sculptor and textile designer * Betty Miller (1910–1965), Irish

author In legal discourse, an author is the creator of an original work that has been published, whether that work exists in written, graphic, visual, or recorded form. The act of creating such a work is referred to as authorship. Therefore, a sculpt ...

* Betty G. Miller (1934–2012), also known as Bettigee, American artist known as the "Mother of De'VIA" * Betty Muffler (born 1944), Aboriginal Australian artist and healer * Betty Parsons (1900–1982), American artist, art dealer, and collector

People in other fields

* Madeleine Passot "Betty" (1914–2009), French Resistance agent * Acid Betty (born 1977), American drag queen * Betty Ang, Filipina businesswoman * Betty Bentley Beaumont (1828–1892), British author, merchant * Betty Debenham, motorcyclist and author *

Betty Ford Elizabeth Anne Ford (; formerly Warren; April 8, 1918 – July 8, 2011) was First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977, as the wife of President Gerald Ford. As first lady, she was active in social policy, and set a precedent as a politi ...

(1918–2011), First Lady of the United States, wife of Gerald Ford * Betty Gleim (1781-1827), German teacher, school founder and author * Betty Jackson (born 1949), British fashion designer * Betty Joseph (1917–2013), British psychoanalyst * Betty Klimenko (born 1959), Australian businessperson and motorsport team owner * Betty Linderoth (1822–1900), Swedish clockmaker * Betty MacDonald (1908–1958), American author * Betty Miller (1926–2018), first female pilot to fly solo across the

Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five Borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean, or, depending on the definition, to Antarctica in the south, and is ...

* Betty Mitchell (1896–1976), Canadian theatre director and educator * Betty Siegel (1931–2020), American author, and president of Kennesaw State University * Betty (slave) (1795), one of Martha Washington's slaves * Bettie, a black cook at the Battle of the Alamo - see List of Texian survivors of the Battle of the Alamo * Lady Betty (Lady Elizabeth Hastings) (1682–1739), philanthropist * Lady Betty ( Elizabeth Sugrue) (c. 1740/1750–1807), Irish executioner

Fictional characters

* Betty, a character from the horror comic series '' Witch Creek Road'' * Betty, a character in the 1991 American comedy movie '' What About Bob?'' * Betty (Naked Brothers Band), in the TV series '' The Naked Brothers Band.'' * Betty, the title character of the comic strip ''Betty'' (1920–1943) by Charles A. Voight * Betty, the title character of ''

Yo soy Betty, la fea ''Yo soy Betty, la fea'' (English: I am Betty, the Ugly one), often referred to simply as ''Betty, la fea'', is a Colombian telenovela created by Fernando Gaitán. It aired from 25 October 1999 to 8 May 2001 on RCN. Ana María Orozco stars as ...

'', a Colombian soap opera, basis for the US TV series ''Ugly Betty'' * Betty, the antagonist of the comedy film '' Kung Pow! Enter the Fist'' (2002) * Betty, an octopus from the animated preschool series ''

Hey Duggee ''Hey Duggee'' is a British pre-school children's animated television series aimed at two to five-year-olds. Created by Grant Orchard, it is produced by Studio AKA, in association with BBC Studios (formerly BBC Worldwide). The show is narra ...

'' * Atomic Betty or 'Betty Barrett', Cartoon Network-Teletoon's first child superhero * Boxcar Betty (Boxcar Bertha), a fictional hobo and Industrial Workers of the World organizer * Brickhouse Betty, the title character from the animated cartoon series featured on Playboy TV and the Internet * Betty Blue, the main character of the film ''Betty Blue'' *

Betty Boop Betty Boop is a cartoon character designed by Grim Natwick at the request of Max Fleischer. She originally appeared in the '' Talkartoon'' and ''Betty Boop'' film series, which were produced by Fleischer Studios and released by Paramount Pic ...

, a Paramount Pictures cartoon character * Betty Brant, a Marvel Comics supporting character * Betty Burke, a character from ''

Power Rangers Beast Morphers ''Power Rangers Beast Morphers'' is the twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh seasons of the American television program ''Power Rangers''. The first season premiered on Nickelodeon on March 2, 2019, while the second season premiered on February 22, 2 ...

'' * Betty Childs-Skolnic, a character in the '' Revenge of the Nerds'' film series *

Betty Cooper Elizabeth "Betty" Cooper is one of the main characters appearing in American comic books published by Archie Comics. She is the lead guitarist, percussionist and one of the three singers of The Archies. The character was created by Bob Montan ...

, a comic book character published by Archie Comics * Betty Draper, a character in the TV series ''Mad Men.'' * Betty Eagleton, a character in the British soap opera ''

Emmerdale ''Emmerdale'' (known as ''Emmerdale Farm'' until 1989) is a British television soap opera that is broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV. The show is set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994), a List of fictional towns and villages, fict ...

'' * Betty Finn, a character in the 1988 film '' Heathers'' * Betty Gordon, the protagonist of a series of children's novels * Betty Grof, a character who is Simon Petrikov's girlfriend in the TV series ''Adventure Time'' * Betty Kane, now known as

Bette Kane Mary Elizabeth Kane, better known as Bette Kane, is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in the 1960s as "Betty Kane", the Batgirl#Betty/Bette Kane, Bat-Girl. Her name was later mo ...

* Betty Lou, a muppet character on ''

Sesame Street ''Sesame Street'' is an American educational television, educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation, and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Worksh ...

'' * Betty Perry, a character in the 1925 American silent comedy '' Introduce Me'' * Betty Rizzo, a character in the film '' Grease'' (1978), played by Stockard Channing * Betty Ross, Bruce Banner's love interest in the Hulk comics * Betty Rubble, a ''Flintstones'' character * Betty Slug, the lead character in the Canadian comic strip '' Betty'' * Betty Smith, a character in the TV series '' Littlest Pet Shop'' * Betty Spencer, the wife of Frank Spencer in the British sitcom ''

Some Mothers do 'ave 'em ''Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em'' is a British sitcom broadcast on BBC1, created and written by Raymond Allen (scriptwriter), Raymond Allen and starring Michael Crawford and Michele Dotrice. It was first broadcast in 1973 and ran for two series, inc ...

'' * Betty Suarez, the title character and heroine of the TV series ''Ugly Betty'' * Betty Sutton, a character in the 1995 American romantic drama movie ''

A Walk in the Clouds ''A Walk in the Clouds'' is a 1995 period romantic drama film directed by Alfonso Arau and starring Keanu Reeves, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Giancarlo Giannini, Angélica Aragón, Evangelina Elizondo, Debra Messing and Anthony Quinn. An in ...

'' * Betty Lou Who, a character in the 2000 American Christmas fantasy comedy movie ''

How the Grinch Stole Christmas ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas!'' is a children's Christmas book by Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel written in rhymed verse with illustrations by the author. It follows the Grinch, a green cranky, solitary creature who attempts to thwart the pu ...

'' * Betty Williams (''Coronation Street''), in the British soap opera ''

Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' (colloquially referred to as ''Corrie'') is a British television soap opera created by ITV Granada, Granada Television and shown on ITV (TV network), ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres on a cobbled, terraced ...

Other

* Betty, the spaceship in '' Aliens'' movie * BETTY, an , alt-rock band from New York City.

References

{{given name English feminine given names Feminine given names Feminine hypocorisms