Variant spelling of Betty, a diminutive of Elizabeth meaning 'God is my oath'.
Bettie is a diminutive form of Elizabeth — one of the most durable names in the entire Western tradition, derived from the Hebrew Elisheba, meaning "my God is an oath" or "my God is abundance." Elizabeth travelled through Greek and Latin into every European language, gathering nicknames along the way: Bess, Betsy, Eliza, Liza, Lisa, and the warm, informal Bettie. The "-ie" spelling, as distinct from the more common "Betty," gives the name a slightly jaunty, turn-of-the-century Americana quality — the spelling of a woman who knows her own mind.
The name's most indelible cultural bearer is almost certainly Bettie Page (1923–2008), the Tennessee-born model who became an icon of 1950s pin-up photography and, later, a feminist reclamation figure. With her distinctive black bangs and bold presence, Bettie Page transformed from a largely forgotten model into a symbol of sexual confidence and self-possession, her image revived in the 1980s and enshrined permanently in popular culture. She gave the spelling "Bettie" a permanent association with a very specific kind of American feminine charisma — playful, direct, and unashamed.
Beyond Page, Bettie was a thoroughly common American given name in the early 20th century, peaking in the 1920s and 1930s alongside Betty. It carries the warmth of that era — front porches, radio dramas, diners — without feeling merely nostalgic. In recent years, as vintage names like Millie, Ruthie, and Josie have returned to favour, Bettie has re-emerged as a name that is simultaneously retro and quietly defiant, a small act of personality in a single word.