This post contains affiliate links.
At a Glance
- Meaning
- Pet form of Elizabeth, traditionally glossed 'God is my oath'
- Origin
- English (diminutive of Elizabeth)
- Gender
- Used for both boys and girls
- Pronunciation
- BESS-ee
Bessie is an English pet form of Elizabeth, traditionally glossed 'God is my oath'. It carries a homespun, affectionate sound, the kind of nickname-turned-name that feels friendly from the first hello.
Meaning & Origin of Bessie
Meaning: Pet form of Elizabeth, traditionally glossed 'God is my oath'.
Origin: English (diminutive of Elizabeth).
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Bessie
BESS-eeIPA /ˈbɛsi/
Popularity of Bessie
Bessie ranked #9 in 1889, when 2,343 babies were given the name. By 2024 it had slipped to #9630, with just 10 babies.
Names Like Bessie
These names have followed a similar path to Bessie in U.S. popularity over the years.
FAQ
What does the name Bessie mean?
Pet form of Elizabeth, traditionally glossed ‘God is my oath’. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Bessie?
Bessie is pronounced BESS-ee (IPA: /ˈbɛsi/).
Is Bessie a popular name right now?
Bessie peaked at #9 in 1889 and is ranked #9630 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Bessie Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Bessie, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Bessie? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
🎲 Think you know your baby names? Take the quiz!
📱 The Baby Names app is here
Swipe names, match with your partner the moment you both say yes, and claim a free Name Art print of your winner. Free to download. See all our apps →
