Bessy: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	15	2	–	#3,688
1920s	21	2	+40%	#3,151
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	5	1	–	#4,428
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	17	2	–	#7,516
1980s	36	4	+112%	#6,841
1990s	52	5	+44%	#7,668
2000s	93	9	+79%	#7,797
2010s	58	6	-38%	#10,830
2020s (to 2025)	37	6	+6%	#9,664

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

#3,688

1920s

+40%

#3,151

1930s

–

1940s

–

#4,428

1950s

–

1960s

–

1970s

–

#7,516

1980s

+112%

#6,841

1990s

+44%

#7,668

2000s

+79%

#7,797

2010s

-38%

#10,830

2020s (to 2025)

+6%

#9,664

The story of Bessy

Bessy is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #15,308 in 2025 with 5 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1914, 334 American babies have been named Bessy. Its peak came in 2001, when 13 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2000s.

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

How old are people named Bessy?

The median living Bessy is about 21 years old; half are between 11 and 33. An estimated 300 people named Bessy are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Bessy year by year

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

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	5	#15,308
2024	6	#13,746
2023	–	–
2022	7	#12,448
2021	9	#10,428
2020	10	#9,664
2019	5	#15,919
2018	8	#11,582
2017	9	#10,830
2016	–	–
2015	9	#11,032
2014	9	#11,127
2013	6	#14,907
2012	6	#15,267
2011	–	–
2010	6	#15,265
2009	6	#15,540
2008	8	#12,764
2007	11	#10,234
2006	12	#9,382
2005	9	#11,056
2004	11	#9,351
2003	9	#10,548
2002	8	#11,284
2001	13	#7,797
2000	6	#13,390
1995	5	#13,683
1990	6	#11,561
1985	–	–
1980	6	#9,206
1975	6	#8,079
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	5	#4,428
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Bessy, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Bessy?

The median living Bessy is about 21 years old. Half of all living Bessys are between 11 and 33 years old.

How many people named Bessy are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Bessy are alive in the United States, based on 334 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Bessy mean?

A diminutive of the female given name Elizabeth; today more often spelled Bessie.

How popular is the name Bessy in 2025?

Bessy ranked #15,308 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Bessy?

334 babies have been named Bessy in the United States since 1914, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Bessy most popular?

Bessy peaked in 2001, when 13 newborns received the name.

Is Bessy a boy or girl name?

Bessy is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Bessy rising or falling?

Bessy is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Bessy

Bessy popularity over time

The story of Bessy

How old are people named Bessy?

Bessy year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Bessy