Betsy is a traditional American girls' name of English origin, derived from the medieval female given name Bethesda. Bethesda itself comes from the Aramaic words "bet" meaning "house" and "tseda" meaning "mercy". Over time, the name evolved into Betsy, which has been popular in the United States since the mid-19th century. It is often used as a nickname for Elizabeth or other names starting with Beth-. Some notable bearers of this name include American suffragist and reformer Betsy Ross (1752-1836), known for sewing the first American flag, and British actress Betsy Brantley, born in 1960.
"Betsy is quite popular, with five girls named each in 1942 and again in 1961."