Bessy

♀ Girl

Pronounced BEH-see /ˈbɛs.i/High

Meaning: Bessy is an old English pet form of Elizabeth, from the Hebrew Elisheva, 'my God is an oath; God is abundance.' Bess and Bessie were everyday nicknames for centuries; Bessy is the same name in another dress.Medium

In 30 seconds: A homespun classic: Bessy is an old pet form of Elizabeth (said 'BEH-see'). Cozy, vintage, and rare today.

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Origin MediumEnglish, Hebrew

MeaningBessy is an old English pet form of Elizabeth, from the Hebrew Elisheva, 'my God is an oath; God is abundance.' Bess and Bessie were everyday nicknames for centuries; Bessy is the same name in another dress.

U.S. rank (2024)#13694 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2001

Total births (all-time)≈ 329

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

Bessy is a long-worn pet form of Elizabeth, whose Hebrew root Elisheva means 'my God is an oath.' Bess, Bessie and Bessy were everyday names in English homes for generations before falling out of fashion; today they read warm and old-time (said 'BEH-see').

It appears very rarely for girls in the U.S. now. Rare, vintage, and homey.

Did you know? Bess and Bessy were among the most common nicknames for Elizabeth for centuries — Queen Elizabeth I was 'Good Queen Bess' (said 'BEH-see').

Overall data confidence 50%

References — Bessy — Pet form of Elizabeth; Hebrew Elisheva 'my God is an oath'

Variations

BessieBessBetsy

Nicknames

BessBee

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Bessy…

Bessie— the same name, older spelling

Betsy— a like Elizabeth pet form

Elizabeth— the full name behind it

Nellie— another cozy vintage nickname name

Explore names like Bessy

By themeenglish classic vintage nickname-name

By meaningGod / Divine Wealth

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Bessy mean?

Bessy is a pet form of Elizabeth, from the Hebrew Elisheva, 'my God is an oath.'

How do you pronounce Bessy?

It's said BEH-see /ˈbɛs.i/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Bessy a boy or girl name?

Bessy is a girl's name.

How popular is Bessy?

Bessy is very rare in the U.S. today, though Bessie was once common.