The Real Inspiration And Evolution Of The Betty Boop Cartoon

Before Betty Boop There Was Nancy

We all know the name Betty Boop, but many don’t realize that before the beloved cartoon character was dubbed Betty Boop, she was essentially nameless. According to Mental Floss, in Betty’s first cartoon appearances, the supporting character didn’t even have a real name. Instead, she was called “Nancy Lee” or “Nan McGrew” in a few episodes. Many believe that Betty Boop got her name in the 1931 cartoon Betty Co-ed, but that’s not exactly tru—however, the creators say that her appearance in the movie did help inspire her name later on.