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Bessie
♀ Girl
Pronounced BES-ee /ˈbɛs.i/High
Meaning: A pet form of Elizabeth — from the Hebrew Elisheva, 'God is my oath'Low
In 30 seconds: God is my oath: Bessie is a pet form of Elizabeth. Crisp, vintage, and warm.
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Origin LowHebrew
MeaningA pet form of Elizabeth — from the Hebrew Elisheva, 'God is my oath'
U.S. rank (2024)#9630 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births10 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1916
Total births (all-time)≈ 170,123
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Bessie is a pet form of Elizabeth — from the Hebrew Elisheva, 'God is my oath'. A crisp, vintage name (said 'BES-ee').
In the U.S. it appears as a vintage pet name. Rare today, God-is-my-oath at the root, and crisp.
Did you know? Elizabeth is Hebrew for 'God is my oath' — Bessie is a pet form, crisp and vintage (said 'BES-ee').
Overall data confidence 38%
References — Elizabeth — nickname; Hebrew etymology
Variations
BessBetsyBeth
Nicknames
Bess
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Bessie mean?
Bessie is a pet form of Elizabeth — Hebrew 'God is my oath'.
How do you pronounce Bessie?
It's said BES-ee /ˈbɛs.i/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Bessie a boy or girl name?
Bessie is a girl's name.
How popular is Bessie?
Bessie is a rare name in the U.S. today.