The baby name Bette is a Female name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /bɛt/ (rhymes with "bet").
Bette is English in Origin.
The baby name Bette is a Female name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /bɛt/ (rhymes with "bet").
Bette is English in Origin.
Bette is an English diminutive of Elizabeth, carried into English through Old French and Latin forms of the Hebrew Elisheva. The underlying meaning is commonly glossed as “my God is an oath,” with an alternate reading “God is abundance,” from ’el (God) + sheva (oath/seven). Pronunciation varies: many say BET-ee, while some, following performers who bear it, prefer the quick BET. The final -e lends a tailored, vintage finish.
Used in English-speaking countries from the late 19th century, Bette surged in the mid‑20th century, aided by star power from Bette Davis and later kept in circulation by Bette Midler. Variant spellings and related diminutives include Bettie, Betty, Bet, Betsy, Beth, Bess, and Bessie; broader cognates are Lisbet (Scandinavian), Elsbeth (German/Swiss), Babette (French), and Lilibet. As a nickname or independent given name, Bette offers a crisp, retro-chic alternative to Elizabeth.
| Bette Davis Bette Davis was a legendary American actress best known as one of Hollywood’s greatest stars. She was famous for playing sharp, often difficult characters in films like All About Eve, Jezebel, and Now, Voyager, across movies, television, and theater. |
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PH | 0 | #110 | 1 | 5,607 | |
| KW | 0 | #121 | 1 | 5,216 | |
| PR | Girls | 0 | #167 | 1 | 3,171 |
| DK | 0 | #206 | 1 | 5,198 | |
| AO | Girls | 0 | #217 | 1 | 4,575 |
| PS | 0 | #226 | 1 | 5,692 | |
| GR | Girls | 0 | #249 | 1 | 6,293 |
| IL | 0 | #279 | 4 | 6,291 | |
| DK | Girls | 0 | #323 | 7 | 7,429 |
| DK | Boys | 0 | #330 | 3 | 7,401 |
| GH | Girls | 0 | #337 | 1 | 6,973 |
| JO | Girls | 0 | #339 | 1 | 7,570 |
| QA | Girls | 0 | #343 | 1 | 15,378 |
| CN | Girls | 0 | #356 | 4 | 8,829 |
| SD | Girls | 0 | #358 | 1 | 7,678 |
| MU | Girls | 0 | #362 | 1 | 8,539 |
| OM | Girls | 0 | #424 | 1 | 15,987 |
| PH | Girls | 0 | #428 | 2 | 13,098 |
| CL | 0 | #434 | 1 | 6,867 | |
| PT | Girls | 0 | #470 | 2 | 7,952 |
| ZA | 0 | #474 | 1 | 14,421 | |
| PA | Girls | 0 | #518 | 1 | 9,861 |
| RU | Girls | 0 | #521 | 3 | 11,913 |
| PS | Girls | 0 | #540 | 8 | 10,981 |
| HK | Boys | 0 | #557 | 1 | 12,905 |
| CM | Girls | 0 | #560 | 1 | 11,671 |
| KW | Girls | 0 | #560 | 2 | 19,177 |
| CR | Girls | 0 | #571 | 3 | 11,342 |
| BH | 0 | #587 | 1 | 17,937 | |
| AE | Girls | 0 | #594 | 4 | 20,968 |
| SG | Girls | 0 | #624 | 9 | 18,916 |
| IL | Girls | 0 | #644 | 2 | 11,648 |
| HK | Girls | 0 | #648 | 3 | 16,104 |
| BO | Girls | 0 | #651 | 1 | 9,488 |
| LB | 0 | #689 | 2 | 13,263 | |
| Finland | Girls | 2026 | #727 | 12 | 3,895 |
| SY | 0 | #767 | 1 | 11,684 | |
| BR | Boys | 0 | #785 | 1 | 12,213 |
| NG | Girls | 0 | #826 | 1 | 15,093 |
| United States | Girls | 2024 | #906 | 11 | 8,487 |
| CL | Girls | 0 | #915 | 1 | 14,098 |
| NL | Girls | 0 | #920 | 36 | 5,933 |
| BR | Girls | 0 | #927 | 15 | 12,708 |
| NG | Boys | 0 | #996 | 6 | 16,906 |
| PE | Girls | 0 | #1,010 | 1 | 14,861 |
| SA | Girls | 0 | #1,013 | 2 | 25,931 |
| IN | Boys | 0 | #1,038 | 2 | 16,750 |
| AE | Boys | 0 | #1,143 | 1 | 22,615 |
| MA | 0 | #1,198 | 2 | 20,986 | |
| ZA | Girls | 0 | #1,235 | 2 | 25,928 |
| TR | 0 | #1,254 | 1 | 19,440 | |
| MX | Girls | 0 | #1,266 | 2 | 17,781 |
| ZA | Boys | 0 | #1,272 | 1 | 25,619 |
Bette is popular in 40 countries — most recent births per country:
Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!