Bess
How to say it: BESS · /ˈbɛs/
English diminutive of Elizabeth, from Hebrew 'God is my oath' - independent vintage name since 19th century.
Bess was the 13,594th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 5 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1880s, its births are down about 9% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #15,543 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #13,594 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 5 |
| Share of births | 1 in 663,068 |
| Peak decade | 1880s |
| Change over 10 years | −9% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #15,543 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Bess peaked in the 1880s and is less common today.
What goes with it
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Bess is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, Hebrew.
Famous people named Bess
- Bess Truman (1885–1982)First Lady of the United States from 1945 to 1953
- Bess Armstrong (born 1953)American actress
- Bess Meredyth (1890–1969)Film actress, Film writer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Keep exploring
Find names you'll both love, starting with Bess
The one-minute style quiz.