Bitsy
A diminutive variation of the feminine name Elizabeth, of Hebrew origin meaning "consecrated to God".
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Bitsy. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Bitsy today is around 67 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Bitsy births was 1958 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Bitsy. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Bitsy is about 67 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Bitsys were born before 1969.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Bitsy. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
1958
6 babies that year
Average age
67
years old
1962 SSA rank
#6,665
Tracked since 1943
Popularity
Bitsy: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Bitsy from the 1940s through to the 1960s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 6 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bitsy by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Bitsy during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Bitsy
The name Bitsy is a diminutive form of the name Elizabeth, which has its origins in the Hebrew name Elisheva, meaning "God is my oath" or "God is abundance." The name Elizabeth has been popular for centuries and has been borne by numerous queens, saints, and other notable figures throughout history.
The earliest recorded use of the diminutive form Bitsy can be traced back to the late 19th century in the United States, where it was likely used as a playful nickname for young girls named Elizabeth. The name Bitsy gained popularity in the early 20th century, particularly among families of English descent who sought to give their daughters a diminutive form of the classic name Elizabeth.
While Bitsy itself does not have any direct historical references or appearances in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its parent name Elizabeth has a rich history. The name Elizabeth is mentioned in the Bible, as it was the name of the mother of John the Baptist. Additionally, several notable women throughout history have borne the name Elizabeth, including Queen Elizabeth I of England (1533-1603), who reigned during the Renaissance period, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902), a pioneering figure in the women's suffrage movement in the United States.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Bitsy was Bitsy Henderson (1894-1969), an American singer and actress who performed on Broadway and in vaudeville shows during the early 20th century. Another notable Bitsy was Bitsy Grant (1925-1986), an American tennis player who won multiple Grand Slam titles in the 1940s and 1950s.
Other individuals with the name Bitsy include Bitsy Bloomingdale (1923-2021), an American socialite and philanthropist; Bitsy Watters (born 1945), an American golfer who won several LPGA Tour events; and Bitsy Simmons (born 1951), an American actress known for her roles in television shows and films in the 1970s and 1980s.
While the name Bitsy may have originated as a playful nickname, it has endured as a distinct and recognizable name in its own right, particularly in the United States. Despite its diminutive nature, the name Bitsy has been borne by numerous accomplished individuals across various fields, reflecting its enduring appeal and versatility.
People
Bitsy + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Bitsy as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Bitsy: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Bitsy?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Bitsy going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Bitsy a common name?
We classify Bitsy as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 16 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Bitsy most popular?
The single biggest year for Bitsy was 1958, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Bitsy is about 67 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Bitsy in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Bitsy a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Bitsy in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Bitsy still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Bitsy in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Bitsy can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Bitsy?
You can see how many Americans are named Bitsy on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.