Bea
A diminutive of the female given name Beatrice.
Every Bea since 1883 — 2,342 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Bea
Bea is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #2,218 in 2025 with 83 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1883, 2,342 American babies have been named Bea. Its peak came in 2024, when 89 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Bea stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Bea year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 83 | #2,218 |
| 2024 | 89 | #2,137 |
| 2023 | 71 | #2,497 |
| 2022 | 63 | #2,724 |
| 2021 | 54 | #3,040 |
| 2020 | 50 | #3,150 |
| 2019 | 48 | #3,283 |
| 2018 | 50 | #3,209 |
| 2017 | 37 | #4,010 |
| 2016 | 48 | #3,335 |
| 2015 | 25 | #5,316 |
| 2014 | 39 | #3,856 |
| 2013 | 23 | #5,674 |
| 2012 | 22 | #5,927 |
| 2011 | 15 | #7,855 |
| 2010 | 18 | #6,950 |
| 2009 | 24 | #5,736 |
| 2008 | 20 | #6,592 |
| 2007 | 12 | #9,637 |
| 2006 | 18 | #6,902 |
| 2005 | 12 | #8,978 |
| 2004 | 7 | #12,954 |
| 2003 | 8 | #11,468 |
| 2002 | — | — |
| 2001 | 10 | #9,461 |
| 2000 | 5 | #15,365 |
| 1995 | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — |
| 1980 | 6 | #9,198 |
| 1975 | — | — |
| 1970 | 5 | #8,090 |
| 1965 | 8 | #4,859 |
| 1960 | 32 | #2,017 |
| 1955 | 9 | #4,091 |
| 1950 | 16 | #2,548 |
| 1945 | 28 | #1,547 |
| 1940 | 26 | #1,523 |
| 1935 | 22 | #1,609 |
| 1930 | 26 | #1,536 |
| 1925 | 22 | #1,851 |
| 1920 | 20 | #1,959 |
| 1915 | 24 | #1,482 |
| 1910 | 20 | #974 |
| 1905 | 13 | #1,060 |
| 1900 | 6 | #1,745 |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Bea
- Bea Arthur Actor · 1922–2009
- Bea Benaderet Actor · 1906–1968
- Bea Miller Singer · b. 1999
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Bea mean?
A diminutive of the female given name Beatrice.
How popular is the name Bea in 2025?
Bea ranked #2,218 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 83 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Bea?
2,342 babies have been named Bea in the United States since 1883, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Bea most popular?
Bea peaked in 2024, when 89 newborns received the name.
Is Bea a boy or girl name?
Bea is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Bea rising or falling?
Bea is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Bea?
Well-known people named Bea include Bea Arthur (actor), Bea Benaderet (actor), Bea Miller (singer).