UK girl's name
Bette
A diminutive form of the feminine given name Elizabeth, of Hebrew origin meaning "pledged to God".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Bette is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Bette popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5669, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 5 births.
This profile covers 18 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2004 to 2022. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 18 living people in the UK are called Bette. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Bette ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2021, when 5 girls were registered as Bette.
- • About 18 living people in the UK are estimated to have Bette as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5669
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2021
5 births
Estimated living
18
2026
Meaning
What does Bette mean?
The name Bette is a feminine given name derived from the Old French word "Bete," which means "blessed" or "holy." It is a contracted form of the name Elizabeth, which has its roots in the Hebrew name "Elisheva," meaning "God is my oath."
The name Bette first appeared in Europe during the Middle Ages, particularly in France and England. It gained popularity as a diminutive form of Elizabeth, which was a common name among royalty and nobility. The earliest recorded use of the name Bette dates back to the 13th century.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name Bette was Bette de Bourgueville, a French historian and writer who lived from 1545 to 1632. She is known for her work "Les Recherches et Antiquitez de la Province de Neustrie," which chronicled the history of Normandy.
In the 16th century, Bette de Verneuil, a French noblewoman and mistress of King Henry IV of France, was a notable figure. She was born in 1579 and played a significant role in the political affairs of the time.
The name Bette gained further prominence in the 20th century with the rise of Hollywood and the film industry. Bette Davis, the legendary American actress, was born in 1908 and won two Academy Awards for her performances in "Dangerous" (1935) and "Jezebel" (1938). She was renowned for her intense acting style and was often cast in roles portraying strong, independent women.
Another famous Bette was Bette Midler, the American singer, actress, and comedian. Born in 1945, she is known for her distinctive vocal style and her work in films such as "The Rose" (1979), for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
Bette Nesmith Graham, born in 1924, was an American artist and inventor. She is credited with the invention of Liquid Paper, the first correction fluid for typewriters. Her invention revolutionized the office supply industry and made her a successful entrepreneur.
While the name Bette has its origins in Europe, it has been embraced globally, with notable individuals bearing the name from various cultures and backgrounds.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Bette over time
The chart below shows babies named Bette registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Bette, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bette by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Bette was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4815 | 8 | 2 |
| 2010s | #5214 | 7 | 2 |
| 2000s | #4598 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Bette
- Bethany 43,226
- Brooke 18,370
- Bella 14,112
- Bonnie 12,149
- Beatrice 11,306
- Bethan 7,968
- Beth 6,440
- Betsy 5,065
- Beatrix 4,317
- Billie 4,220
- Beau 3,231
- Bryony 3,167
FAQ
Bette: questions and answers
How popular is the name Bette in the UK right now?
In 2022, Bette was ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Bette most popular?
The peak year on record was 2021, with 5 babies registered as Bette in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Bette?
A diminutive form of the feminine given name Elizabeth, of Hebrew origin meaning "pledged to God".
How many people are called Bette in the UK?
A total of 18 babies have been registered as Bette across the 5 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.