57 saved#3,210 of 6,224

National Betty Day

A name day on December 22 honoring individuals named Betty and celebrating the name's cultural legacy across American history.

Tuesday

December 2026

Last updated March 21, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

Have an update or spot an error?

YEARLY DATEDecember 22

OBSERVED INUnited States

CATEGORYNames

ORIGIN

Community Origin

FOUNDING ENTITY

Not documented

FIRST OBSERVED

~2020

HOW THE HOLIDAY CAME TO BE

No documented founder or formal establishment record has been identified. Online holiday listings began featuring the observance around 2020.

+ Know the story? Submit a founder Help us complete this holiday

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Between 1928 and 1934, Betty ranked as the second most popular baby name in the United States, trailing only Mary. National Betty Day marks a name that shaped American pop culture through figures spanning Hollywood, the White House, and the women's movement.

The name traces back to the Hebrew Elisheba, meaning "my God is an oath," and entered English as a diminutive of Elizabeth during the medieval period. Once so common it defined an entire generation, Betty has since become rare among newborns, ranking outside the top 1,000 for most of the twenty-first century.

ORIGINS

Betty Day history

INTRODUCTION

The name Betty entered the English language as a pet form of Elizabeth, itself derived from the Hebrew Elisheba. While variants like Bess, Beth, and Betsy appeared alongside it, Betty emerged as a distinct given name by the eighteenth century. Its compact two syllables and warm sound made it a natural fit for everyday use.

Betty's rise in American naming culture accelerated in the early twentieth century. By 1928, it had climbed to the second most popular girls' name in the country, a ranking it held for six consecutive years. The name's dominance coincided with a period when short, accessible names were favored, and its cultural visibility was amplified by characters and public figures alike.

CHAPTER 01

A Name That Defined an Era

In 1921, the Washburn-Crosby Company (later General Mills) created the fictional Betty Crocker as a trusted voice for home bakers, selecting the name specifically for its friendly, all-American quality. The character became one of the most recognized brand personas in history, and her name reflected how thoroughly Betty had become embedded in the national identity.

During World War II, actress Betty Grable became the era's most iconic pin-up, with her studio insuring her legs for $1 million. Her fame cemented the name's association with American glamour and resilience during wartime.

CHAPTER 02

Bettys Who Changed the Conversation

In 1963, Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique articulated what she called "the problem that has no name," a widespread dissatisfaction among suburban women confined to domestic roles. The book sold over three million copies and is widely credited with igniting second-wave feminism. Friedan went on to co-found the National Organization for Women in 1966.

Former First Lady Betty Ford publicly disclosed her struggles with alcohol and prescription drug addiction in 1978, then co-founded the Betty Ford Center in 1982. The center became the nation's most recognized addiction treatment facility and helped transform public attitudes toward substance dependence as a treatable medical condition.

CHAPTER 03

The Name's Modern Legacy

Betty White's television career spanned more than 80 years, earning her seven Emmy Awards and a Guinness World Record for the longest TV career by a female entertainer. Her final decades brought renewed popularity, including her celebrated turn hosting Saturday Night Live at age 88. National Betty Day honors the name's deep roots in American life, from its peak as the nation's second most popular girls' name to its association with women who reshaped entertainment, politics, and culture.

TIMELINE

National Betty Day Timeline

Betty Crocker character is created

Washburn-Crosby Company invented the fictional Betty Crocker persona, choosing the name Betty for its friendly, all-American appeal.

Betty peaks as a baby name

The Social Security Administration recorded Betty as the second most popular girls' name in the U.S., a position it held from 1928 to 1934.

Betty Grable becomes top pin-up

Actress Betty Grable's over-the-shoulder bathing suit photograph became the most requested pin-up image among American troops during World War II.

Betty Friedan publishes landmark book

Betty Friedan released The Feminine Mystique, which sold over three million copies and helped launch second-wave feminism in the United States.

Betty Ford Center opens

Former First Lady Betty Ford co-founded the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, California, bringing addiction treatment into mainstream public discourse.

Betty White hosts SNL at 88

Betty White became the oldest person to host Saturday Night Live after a grassroots Facebook campaign, winning a Primetime Emmy for the appearance.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate National Betty Day

Watch a Betty White marathon

Stream episodes of The Golden Girls or The Mary Tyler Moore Show to appreciate one of the most celebrated television careers in history. The Television Academy hosts her full award history and career retrospective.

BAKE

Bake a recipe from Betty Crocker's archives

Try one of the original recipes from the Betty Crocker collection at BettyCrocker.com. The archive includes recipes dating back to the brand's founding in 1921.

READ

Read The Feminine Mystique

Pick up Betty Friedan's 1963 book that helped reshape the American women's movement. The National Women's History Museum offers context on Friedan's legacy and the book's lasting impact.

RESEARCH

Research the Bettys in your family tree

Use the day to explore genealogy databases for relatives named Betty, Elizabeth, or Bethany. Understanding naming patterns can reveal generational trends and family connections you may not have known about.

DONATE

Donate to the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

Support addiction recovery in honor of Betty Ford's legacy by contributing to the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, the largest nonprofit addiction treatment provider in the United States.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why We Love National Betty Day

It reflects a broader name day tradition

Name days have roots in European saint's day calendars that predate modern birthday celebrations. National Betty Day extends this tradition into American culture, giving communities a shared occasion to recognize the identities and histories tied to a specific name.

It marks a generationally concentrated name

An estimated 1.3 million Americans carry the name Betty, with the vast majority born before 1960. That concentration makes it one of the most age-specific names in Social Security Administration records, a living marker of mid-century American identity.

It connects to wartime and media iconography

Betty Grable's over-the-shoulder photograph was included in Life magazine's 100 Photographs That Changed the World, cementing a single image as a symbol of American morale during World War II. The name's association with that era of visual culture remains one of the strongest name-to-image connections in twentieth-century media.

Test your knowledge

How well do you know National Betty Day?

1 / 8

What does the name Betty derive from through its connection to Elizabeth?

Related holidays

WED

Jan 2026

Names

National Judy Day

An international observance on January 20 dedicated to celebrating individuals named Judy, whether it is their given name or a nickname.

National Elizabeth Day

Calling all Elizabeths! It's time to celebrate your special day and embrace the power of this timeless name. Let's raise a toast to all the amazing Elizabeths out there!

172Read

SUN

Nov 2026