Bessie
A diminutive of the female given name Elizabeth, also used as a formal female given name.
Every Bessie since 1880 — 170,877 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Bessie
Bessie is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #6,889 in 2025 with 16 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 170,877 American babies have been named Bessie. Its peak came in 1916, when 4,132 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1910s.
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 Bessie stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Bessie 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 | 16 | #6,889 | — | — |
| 2024 | 10 | #9,666 | — | — |
| 2023 | 15 | #7,308 | — | — |
| 2022 | 13 | #8,113 | — | — |
| 2021 | 17 | #6,735 | — | — |
| 2020 | 16 | #6,974 | — | — |
| 2019 | 11 | #9,220 | — | — |
| 2018 | 9 | #10,700 | — | — |
| 2017 | 12 | #8,883 | — | — |
| 2016 | 8 | #11,963 | — | — |
| 2015 | 11 | #9,581 | — | — |
| 2014 | 11 | #9,635 | — | — |
| 2013 | 17 | #7,102 | — | — |
| 2012 | 13 | #8,706 | — | — |
| 2011 | 9 | #11,318 | — | — |
| 2010 | 8 | #12,456 | — | — |
| 2009 | 9 | #11,604 | — | — |
| 2008 | 15 | #8,185 | — | — |
| 2007 | 15 | #8,161 | — | — |
| 2006 | 19 | #6,626 | — | — |
| 2005 | 15 | #7,565 | — | — |
| 2004 | 7 | #12,960 | — | — |
| 2003 | 15 | #7,262 | — | — |
| 2002 | 28 | #4,397 | — | — |
| 2001 | 26 | #4,580 | — | — |
| 2000 | 31 | #3,995 | — | — |
| 1995 | 26 | #3,987 | — | — |
| 1990 | 73 | #1,907 | — | — |
| 1985 | 85 | #1,461 | — | — |
| 1980 | 99 | #1,288 | — | — |
| 1975 | 131 | #957 | — | — |
| 1970 | 160 | #844 | — | — |
| 1965 | 273 | #579 | — | — |
| 1960 | 385 | #493 | — | — |
| 1955 | 533 | #381 | — | — |
| 1950 | 794 | #270 | — | — |
| 1945 | 1,075 | #190 | — | — |
| 1940 | 1,297 | #162 | 6 | #3,163 |
| 1935 | 1,756 | #129 | 20 | #1,545 |
| 1930 | 2,382 | #108 | 23 | #1,536 |
| 1925 | 3,266 | #87 | 14 | #2,206 |
| 1920 | 3,906 | #71 | 14 | #2,234 |
| 1915 | 3,888 | #57 | 15 | #1,887 |
| 1910 | 2,392 | #37 | 12 | #936 |
| 1905 | 2,446 | #20 | 9 | #844 |
| 1900 | 3,044 | #15 | 11 | #790 |
| 1895 | 2,542 | #15 | 7 | #884 |
| 1890 | 2,370 | #11 | — | — |
| 1885 | 1,588 | #13 | 7 | #770 |
| 1880 | 796 | #23 | — | — |
Famous people named Bessie
- Bessie Smith Singer · 1894–1937
- Bessie Coleman Pilot · 1892–1926
- Bessie Love Actor · 1898–1986
- Bessie Head Writer · 1937–1986
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Bessie mean?
A diminutive of the female given name Elizabeth, also used as a formal female given name.
How popular is the name Bessie in 2025?
Bessie ranked #6,889 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 16 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Bessie?
170,877 babies have been named Bessie in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Bessie most popular?
Bessie peaked in 1916, when 4,132 newborns received the name.
Is Bessie a boy or girl name?
Bessie is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Bessie rising or falling?
Bessie is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Bessie?
Well-known people named Bessie include Bessie Smith (singer), Bessie Coleman (pilot), Bessie Love (actor).