Bess Girl

Popularity: #943 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: Bess /bɛs/

Origin: Hebrew; English

Meaning: Hebrew: God's promise; English: pledged to God

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Bess is derived from the Hebrew name Elisheba, which means "God is my oath." This name was translated into Greek as Elisabet and subsequently into Latin as Elisabeth. The name entered Old French as Élisabeth, which was then adapted into English as Elizabeth.

Over time, Bess emerged as a diminutive form of Elizabeth, particularly popular in medieval England, where it became a standalone name in its own right. The evolution of Bess reflects a common linguistic trend where diminutive forms gain independent status in various cultures.

Historically, the name Bess has been associated with several notable figures. One of the most significant is Queen Elizabeth I of England, who reigned from 1558 to 1603.

Her reign is often referred to as the Elizabethan Era, a period marked by the flourishing of English drama and the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. The queen's prominence helped solidify the name Elizabeth, and by extension, its diminutive Bess, in the cultural consciousness of England.

Additionally, the name appears in various literary works, including Shakespeare's plays, where it is sometimes used to evoke themes of loyalty and devotion. Culturally, Bess has resonated through various traditions and has been used in folk songs and nursery rhymes, contributing to its enduring presence in English-speaking societies.

The name is often associated with qualities such as strength and fidelity, reflecting its biblical roots. In some contexts, Bess has also been linked to the concept of a beloved or cherished person, further enhancing its emotional significance.

The name's simplicity and charm have allowed it to persist through centuries, making it a notable example of how diminutive forms can evolve and maintain cultural relevance.

Famous people named Bess

In this section, you will find notable people named Bess. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Bess who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Bess who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Bess Armstrong is an actress best known for My So-Called Life, Jaws 3-D, and The Four Seasons.

Bess Houdini is known as the wife of magician Harry Houdini and for her involvement in his career and legacy.

Bess Meyerson was a television personality and beauty queen best known for winning Miss America and her work on television.

Fictional characters named Bess

The following list of fictional characters named Bess is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Bess is a fictional character from the novel The Old Curiosity Shop. She is a young girl who is central to the story's themes of innocence and suffering.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Bess, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

BethBeaBelleBridgetBlairBlythe

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Bess. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

JessNessTessCressFessLassMissKess

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Bess was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Bess has ranked as high as #294 nationally, which occurred in 1894, and has been most popular in New York, Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Missouri.

In the past 5 years the name Bess has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Bess is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Bess was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Bess.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 5 0 5
2022 6 0 6
2020 8 0 8
2019 5 0 5
2018 7 0 7
2016 6 0 6
2015 6 0 6
2014 8 0 8
2013 7 0 7
2012 6 0 6
2011 7 0 7
2010 7 0 7
2009 8 0 8
2008 7 0 7
2007 8 0 8
2006 6 0 6
2005 18 0 18
2004 5 0 5
2003 12 0 12
2002 14 0 14
2001 10 0 10
2000 9 0 9
1999 11 0 11
1998 8 0 8
1997 14 0 14
1996 14 0 14
1995 11 0 11
1994 11 0 11
1993 14 0 14
1992 16 0 16
1991 12 0 12
1990 16 0 16
1989 20 0 20
1988 28 0 28
1987 29 0 29
1986 29 0 29
1985 27 0 27
1984 38 0 38
1983 27 0 27
1982 29 0 29
1981 38 0 38
1980 28 0 28
1979 25 0 25
1978 33 0 33
1977 26 0 26
1976 22 0 22
1975 11 0 11
1974 14 0 14
1973 20 0 20
1972 15 0 15
1971 18 0 18
1970 19 0 19
1969 20 0 20
1968 8 0 8
1967 15 0 15
1966 19 0 19
1965 19 0 19
1964 19 0 19
1963 26 0 26
1962 34 0 34
1961 33 0 33
1960 26 0 26
1959 26 0 26
1958 34 0 34
1957 28 0 28
1956 28 0 28
1955 23 0 23
1954 34 0 34
1953 23 0 23
1952 30 0 30
1951 16 0 16
1950 15 0 15
1949 20 0 20
1948 35 0 35
1947 21 0 21
1946 24 0 24
1945 21 0 21
1944 25 0 25
1943 32 0 32
1942 32 0 32
1941 31 0 31
1940 29 0 29
1939 27 0 27
1938 23 0 23
1937 18 0 18
1936 20 0 20
1935 17 0 17
1934 26 0 26
1933 28 0 28
1932 29 0 29
1931 27 0 27
1930 36 0 36
1929 33 0 33
1928 33 0 33
1927 58 0 58
1926 55 0 55
1925 64 0 64
1924 81 0 81
1923 81 0 81
1922 74 0 74
1921 84 0 84
1920 82 0 82
1919 99 0 99
1918 103 0 103
1917 103 0 103
1916 131 0 131
1915 122 0 122
1914 93 0 93
1913 119 0 119
1912 125 0 125
1911 93 0 93
1910 88 0 88
1909 95 0 95
1908 91 0 91
1907 103 0 103
1906 101 0 101
1905 87 0 87
1904 96 0 96
1903 112 0 112
1902 104 0 104
1901 107 0 107
1900 134 0 134
1899 123 0 123
1898 151 0 151
1897 137 0 137
1896 151 0 151
1895 150 0 150
1894 182 5 177
1893 169 0 169
1892 177 0 177
1891 137 0 137
1890 154 0 154
1889 182 0 182
1888 164 0 164
1887 155 0 155
1886 128 0 128
1885 97 0 97
1884 105 0 105
1883 94 0 94
1882 76 0 76
1881 52 0 52
1880 46 0 46

Top States for Bess (1986)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
NY 6
100%