Betty

Betty is a short form of the forename Elizabeth. There are two main types of such shortenings: they are convenient for writing, e.g. in lists; or they are essentially spoken pet-names, and thus informal. (See Conventional abbreviations for forenames.)

Short form	Long form	Informal or written	Other short forms	Remarks
Betty	Elizabeth	Informal	Bess; Bessy; Betsy; Eliza; Libby; Lisa; Liz; Liza; Tetty	Elsie & Elspeth (formerly Elspie) are contractions now established as names in own right

There is a list of similar names at Conventional abbreviations for forenames, as well as the category:short names

Note that any informal form may be spelled in different ways. Notably, any spelling listed that ends in '-ie' may be written with the ending '-y', and vice versa.

There is an old riddling rhyme for children

Elizabeth, Eliza, Betsy and Bess

All went together to seek a bird's nest.

They found a bird's nest with five eggs in it,

They all took one and left four in it.