Bessie Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Bessie is derived from the Hebrew name Elisheva, meaning 'God is my oath.' It evolved through Elizabeth into a popular English diminutive in the 19th century. The name is often associated with warmth and friendliness and has notable historical figures linked to it.
The name Bessie is most popular in Mississippi, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Bessie has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Bessie' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1578th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2169th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 5588th out of 7552 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 56th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 142nd out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 366th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 912th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2057th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6550th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 8567th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Bessie' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Bessie"
Pronunciation
/ˈbɛsi/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
Bessie is often considered a diminutive form of Elizabeth, which comes from the Hebrew name Elisheva, meaning 'God is my oath.'
Meaning
God is my oath
Language Evolution
Elisheva (Hebrew), Elizabeth (English), Bessie (English)
Historical Usage
Bessie gained popularity in the 19th century as a common diminutive of Elizabeth, especially in English-speaking countries.
Variants & Derivatives
Bess, Betty, Liz, Liza
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Bessie is viewed as a charming and vintage name, often associated with warmth and friendliness.
Famous People
Bessie Smith (American blues singer), Bessie Coleman (first African American woman pilot), Bessie Head (Botswana-based South African writer)
Explore More Bessie Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Bessie"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Bessie"
"Bessie" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1578th of 7545 | 356 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2169th of 6773 | 216 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 5588th of 7552 | 22 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 56th of 9107 | 81,916 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 142nd of 9204 | 30,160 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 366th of 12526 | 11,536 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 912th of 19264 | 2,281 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 2057th of 27321 | 956 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 6550th of 35406 | 290 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 8567th of 30306 | 150 |
Regional Popularity of "Bessie" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
95.07% 2237th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Bessie" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
8.05% 114th/1416 |
9.06% 125th/1379 |
1.44% 34th/2366 |
9.02% 103rd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
13.78% 213th/1546 |
16.32% 254th/1556 |
3.40% 80th/2353 |
13.90% 215th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
26.45% 589th/2227 |
26.91% 654th/2430 |
8.24% 235th/2853 |
22.09% 613th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
34.53% 1014th/2937 |
35.14% 1224th/3483 |
19.73% 694th/3518 |
38.65% 1563rd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
64.78% 2387th/3685 |
71.37% 3194th/4475 |
43.24% 2246th/5194 |
44.01% 2780th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Bessie"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Bessie" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.