Bessie
How to say it: BES-ee · /ˈbɛsiː/
English diminutive of Elizabeth, Hebrew 'God is my oath' - peak farm-era classic, now vintage revival.
Bessie was the 5,429th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 16 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1880s, its births are up about 31% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #4,705 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #5,429 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 16 |
| Share of births | 1 in 207,208 |
| Peak decade | 1880s |
| Change over 10 years | +31% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #4,705 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Bessie peaked in the 1880s.
What goes with it
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Bessie is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, Hebrew.
Famous people named Bessie
- Bessie Smith (1894–1937)American blues singer
- Bessie Coleman (1892–1926)American aviator
- Bessie Love (1898–1986)American actress
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Keep exploring
About as popular as Bessie
Find names you'll both love, starting with Bessie
The one-minute style quiz.