Unisex name · peaked 1990

Bee

A diminutive of the female given name Beatrice.

Every Bee since 1881 — 1,700 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex — comparable across eras
0.040.080.110.1518801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
BoysGirls
Rank 2025
among boys
Babies in 2025
8
named Bee
Peak year
1990
48 babies
All-time total
1,700
since 1881

The story of Bee

Bee is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1881, 1,700 American babies have been named Bee — about 60% boys and 40% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1990, when 48 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1990s.

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 Bee stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Bee year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 8 #11,095
2024 8 #11,275
2023 9 #10,445
2022 13 #8,112
2021 8 #11,287
2020 8 #11,254
2019
2018 8 #11,575
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000 6 #9,206
1995 9 #8,857 26 #2,770
1990 10 #7,938 38 #1,974
1985 7 #8,423 23 #2,302
1980 5 #10,540 34 #1,696
1975
1970
1965
1960
1955 5 #5,892
1950
1945
1940
1935 7 #2,983
1930 8 #3,045
1925 11 #2,959 9 #2,950
1920 14 #2,478 16 #2,058
1915 21 #1,626 14 #1,981
1910 12 #1,344 8 #1,206
1905 7 #1,554 6 #1,105
1900 13 #1,056 10 #843
1895 7 #1,313 7 #882
1890 7 #1,111 8 #746
1885 5 #949
1880

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Bee mean?

A diminutive of the female given name Beatrice.

How popular is the name Bee in 2025?

Bee did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Bee?

1,700 babies have been named Bee in the United States since 1881, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Bee most popular?

Bee peaked in 1990, when 48 newborns received the name.

Is Bee a boy or girl name?

Bee is used for both: about 40% of babies named Bee have been girls and 60% boys.

Is the name Bee rising or falling?

Bee has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Names like Bee

Compare Bee with similar names →