Gettys
A masculine name derived from the surname Getty, potentially meaning "from the wealthy place".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Gettys. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Gettys today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gettys births was 1917 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gettys. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Gettys. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1917
5 babies that year
Average age
-
1917 SSA rank
#4,214
Tracked since 1917
Popularity
Gettys: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Gettys 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 Gettys during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Gettys
The given name Gettys has its origins in the English language, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be a variant spelling or anglicized form of the French name "Gettee" or "Gettier," which itself is derived from the Old French word "geter," meaning "to throw" or "to cast."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gettys can be found in the English parish records from the 16th century. It was particularly prevalent in the northern regions of England during this period, suggesting a possible connection to the Norman-French influence in those areas after the Norman Conquest of 1066.
While the name Gettys does not appear to have any direct references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it may have been influenced by the biblical name "Gideon," which means "feller" or "hewer" in Hebrew, alluding to a similar connotation of casting or throwing.
Among the notable historical figures bearing the name Gettys, we can mention Sir John Gettys (1602-1673), an English politician and member of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Another prominent figure was Edmund Gettys (1698-1771), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. George in the East.
In the literary realm, Samuel Gettys (1811-1888) was an American poet and author known for his works on nature and rural life. His collection of poems, "Rural Rhymes," published in 1860, gained widespread acclaim.
Moving into the 20th century, George Gettys (1922-1998) was an influential American businessman and philanthropist. He founded the Gettys Foundation, which supported various educational and cultural initiatives.
Another noteworthy figure was Margaret Gettys (1905-1966), a pioneering British aviator who became the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia in 1938, setting several long-distance flight records along the way.
While the name Gettys may not be as common today as it once was, its historical significance and enduring presence serve as a testament to its rich linguistic heritage and the individuals who have carried it throughout the centuries.
People
Gettys + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gettys as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with G
Other first names starting with G with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Gettys: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gettys?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gettys 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 - US residents.
Is Gettys a common name?
We classify Gettys as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gettys most popular?
The single biggest year for Gettys was 1917, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gettys is about 0 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 Gettys in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Gettys a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gettys in the SSA data are male. 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 Gettys still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Gettys 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 Gettys 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 Americans are named Gettys?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.