Barbara vs. Betty: which name is older?
The average Barbara is 72 and the average Betty is 76, so Betty is the older name, by about 4 years.
Barbara
Betty
When was each name popular?
Betty peaked first, in 1930 (during the Depression). Barbara peaked in 1947, 17 years later.
Which name is more common?
There are about 800,000 Barbaras and about 310,000 Bettys alive in the US, so there are about 3 times as many Barbaras as Bettys.
Boys or girls?
Both are girls' names: over 99% of living Barbaras and over 99% of living Bettys are women.
Names the same age as Barbara
Names the same age as Betty
More comparisons: Elizabeth vs. Betty · Shirley vs. Betty
Think you can guess a Barbara's age?
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Barbara or Betty: questions
Which is older, Barbara or Betty?
The average Barbara is 72 and the average Betty is 76, so Betty is the older name, by about 4 years.
How old is the average Barbara?
The average Barbara in the US is 72; half of all living Barbaras are between 66 and 80.
How old is the average Betty?
The average Betty in the US is 76; half of all living Bettys are between 70 and 85.
Which is more common, Barbara or Betty?
There are about 800,000 Barbaras and about 310,000 Bettys alive in the US, so there are about 3 times as many Barbaras as Bettys.
Estimates from Social Security Administration baby-name records (births 1880–2025) and SSA cohort life tables (2026 Trustees Report). How we calculate this