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At a Glance
- Meaning
- God is my oath (via Elizabeth)
- Origin
- English (from Hebrew via Elizabeth)
- Gender
- Used for both boys and girls
- Pronunciation
- BESS
Bess is a short, crisp name pronounced BESS. It's an English name that comes from the Hebrew by way of Elizabeth, and it carries the meaning "God is my oath." If you love Elizabeth but want something brisker and more familiar-sounding, Bess is a one-syllable route to the same roots.
Meaning & Origin of Bess
Meaning: God is my oath (via Elizabeth).
Origin: English (from Hebrew via Elizabeth).
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Bess
BESSIPA /bɛs/
Popularity of Bess
Bess peaked at #157 in 1887, when 155 babies were given the name. By 2022 it had slipped to #13858, with just 6 babies, so a child named Bess today is unlikely to share the name with anyone in her class.
Names Like Bess
These names have followed a similar path to Bess in U.S. popularity over the years.
FAQ
What does the name Bess mean?
God is my oath (via Elizabeth). (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Bess?
Bess is pronounced BESS (IPA: /bɛs/).
Is Bess a popular name right now?
Bess peaked at #157 in 1887 and is ranked #13858 as of 2022. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2022.)
Make Bess Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Bess, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Bess? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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