Bessie
Bessie is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Pledged to God or God is my oath.
Origin and history
Bessie originated as a diminutive of Elizabeth, which comes from the Hebrew name Elisheva meaning 'pledged to God'. It was extremely popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States, often used as an independent given name. Today it is considered a vintage, classic name that is used infrequently for newborns.
Popularity in the United States
170,140 babies in the United States have been named Bessie since 1880. It ranks #233 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2014.
States where it is most popular
- AL (7.3 %)
- NC (7.3 %)
- GA (7.3 %)
- MS (7.1 %)
- TX (6.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 15,373 |
| 1890-1900 | 24,417 |
| 1900-1910 | 23,984 |
| 1910-1920 | 33,859 |
| 1920-1930 | 32,158 |
| 1930-1940 | 18,035 |
| 1940-1950 | 11,062 |
| 1950-1960 | 5,942 |
| 1960-1970 | 2,592 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,207 |
| 1980-1990 | 749 |
| 1990-2000 | 386 |
| 2000-2010 | 180 |
| 2010-2019 | 109 |
| 2020-2029 | 87 |
Famous people named Bessie
- Bessie Coleman: Aviator, Civil rights figure
- Bessie Smith: Singer, Musician
Fun facts
- Bessie was consistently among the top 20 most popular girls' names in the United States during the late 1880s and 1890s.
- Bessie Coleman became the first African American and Native American female pilot in 1921.