Bess
Bess is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Pledged to God or God is my oath.
Origin and history
Bess originated as a traditional English diminutive of Elizabeth, derived from the Hebrew name Elisheba. It enjoyed widespread popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries but is now an uncommon, vintage classic in the United States. Its historic charm offers a simple, single-syllable alternative to longer traditional names.
Popularity in the United States
7,171 babies in the United States have been named Bess since 1880. It ranks #1993 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2082.
States where it is most popular
- NY (24.3 %)
- TX (22.9 %)
- IL (13.3 %)
- PA (8.3 %)
- MO (5.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 1,099 |
| 1890-1900 | 1,526 |
| 1900-1910 | 1,030 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,076 |
| 1920-1930 | 645 |
| 1930-1940 | 251 |
| 1940-1950 | 270 |
| 1950-1960 | 257 |
| 1960-1970 | 219 |
| 1970-1980 | 203 |
| 1980-1990 | 293 |
| 1990-2000 | 127 |
| 2000-2010 | 97 |
| 2010-2019 | 59 |
| 2020-2029 | 19 |
Famous people named Bess
- Bess Truman: First Lady
- Bess Myerson: Model, Television Personality
Nicknames
Bessie
Fun facts
- Queen Elizabeth I of England was affectionately nicknamed 'Good Queen Bess' by her subjects.
- Though it began as a pet form of Elizabeth, Bess established itself as an independent birth name in English-speaking countries.