Bessie
#6,838 for girls in 2025, 16 births · Last seen for boys in 1956 at #3,942
Given to girls 99.6% of the time
- Peak · girls
- 1889 · 2,343 births
- Debut · girls
- 796 births
- In top 100 · girls
- 48 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 170,140since 1880
Bessie over time
Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #6,838 | 16 | — | |
| 2024 | #9,556 | 10 | — | |
| 2023 | #7,247 | 15 | — | |
| 2022 | #8,032 | 13 | — | |
| 2021 | #6,691 | 17 | — | |
| 2020 | #6,923 | 16 | — | |
| 2019 | #9,112 | 11 | — | |
| 2018 | #10,545 | 9 | — | |
| 2017 | #8,776 | 12 | — | |
| 2016 | #11,781 | 8 | — | |
| 2015 | #9,481 | 11 | — | |
| 2014 | #9,517 | 11 | — | |
| 2013 | #7,031 | 17 | — | |
| 2012 | #8,632 | 13 | — | |
| 2011 | #11,181 | 9 | — | |
| 2010 | #12,276 | 8 | — | |
| 2009 | #11,459 | 9 | — | |
| 2008 | #8,109 | 15 | — | |
| 2007 | #8,098 | 15 | — | |
| 2006 | #6,592 | 19 | — | |
| 2005 | #7,500 | 15 | — | |
| 2004 | #12,761 | 7 | — | |
| 2003 | #7,207 | 15 | — | |
| 2002 | #4,381 | 28 | — | |
| 2001 | #4,564 | 26 | — | |
| 2000 | #3,983 | 31 | — | |
| 1999 | #5,039 | 21 | — | |
| 1998 | #4,142 | 27 | — | |
| 1997 | #3,547 | 32 | — | |
| 1996 | #3,632 | 30 | — | |
| 1995 | #3,969 | 26 | — | |
| 1994 | #3,098 | 37 | — | |
| 1993 | #4,257 | 24 | — | |
| 1992 | #2,488 | 51 | — | |
| 1991 | #2,073 | 65 | — | |
| 1990 | #1,905 | 73 | — | |
| 1989 | #2,072 | 60 | — | |
| 1988 | #2,152 | 53 | — | |
| 1987 | #1,918 | 59 | — | |
| 1986 | #1,751 | 66 | — | |
| 1985 | #1,458 | 85 | — | |
| 1984 | #1,616 | 68 | — | |
| 1983 | #1,644 | 67 | — | |
| 1982 | #1,374 | 89 | — | |
| 1981 | #1,253 | 103 | — | |
| 1980 | #1,286 | 99 | — | |
| 1979 | #1,251 | 102 | — | |
| 1978 | #1,314 | 91 | — | |
| 1977 | #1,283 | 92 | — | |
| 1976 | #1,122 | 106 | — | |
| 1975 | #957 | 131 | — | |
| 1974 | #1,033 | 116 | — | |
| 1973 | #990 | 120 | — | |
| 1972 | #863 | 149 | — | |
| 1971 | #927 | 140 | — | |
| 1970 | #844 | 160 | — | |
| 1969 | #823 | 156 | — | |
| 1968 | #794 | 159 | — | |
| 1967 | #716 | 186 | — | |
| 1966 | #686 | 202 | — | |
| 1965 | #579 | 273 | — | |
| 1964 | #581 | 290 | — | |
| 1963 | #574 | 293 | — | |
| 1962 | #536 | 330 | — | |
| 1961 | #557 | 318 | — | |
| 1960 | #493 | 385 | — | |
| 1959 | #486 | 396 | — | |
| 1958 | #451 | 443 | — | |
| 1957 | #434 | 465 | — | |
| 1956 | #396 | 518 | #3,942 | 5 |
| 1955 | #381 | 533 | — | |
| 1954 | #331 | 652 | — | |
| 1953 | #322 | 650 | — | |
| 1952 | #297 | 729 | — | |
| 1951 | #284 | 762 | — | |
| 1950 | #270 | 794 | — | |
| 1949 | #241 | 946 | #3,019 | 7 |
| 1948 | #236 | 998 | #3,668 | 5 |
| 1947 | #233 | 1,012 | — | |
| 1946 | #225 | 1,022 | #3,525 | 5 |
| 1945 | #190 | 1,075 | — | |
| 1944 | #189 | 1,122 | — | |
| 1943 | #190 | 1,148 | — | |
| 1942 | #176 | 1,266 | #3,212 | 6 |
| 1941 | #173 | 1,176 | #2,333 | 10 |
| 1940 | #162 | 1,297 | #3,130 | 6 |
| 1939 | #158 | 1,361 | #2,159 | 11 |
| 1938 | #155 | 1,419 | #1,741 | 16 |
| 1937 | #143 | 1,550 | #2,479 | 9 |
| 1936 | #136 | 1,645 | #2,062 | 12 |
| 1935 | #129 | 1,756 | #1,538 | 20 |
| 1934 | #128 | 1,832 | #2,121 | 12 |
| 1933 | #117 | 1,881 | #1,707 | 17 |
| 1932 | #117 | 2,093 | #2,465 | 10 |
| 1931 | #113 | 2,116 | #1,770 | 17 |
| 1930 | #108 | 2,382 | #1,533 | 23 |
| 1929 | #107 | 2,380 | #1,672 | 20 |
| 1928 | #101 | 2,661 | #1,413 | 27 |
| 1927 | #88 | 2,975 | #2,034 | 16 |
| 1926 | #89 | 3,054 | #1,432 | 26 |
| 1925 | #87 | 3,266 | #2,193 | 14 |
| 1924 | #86 | 3,404 | #1,727 | 21 |
| 1923 | #81 | 3,387 | #2,224 | 14 |
| 1922 | #81 | 3,447 | #1,503 | 25 |
| 1921 | #75 | 3,678 | #2,502 | 12 |
| 1920 | #71 | 3,906 | #2,231 | 14 |
| 1919 | #59 | 4,106 | #2,385 | 12 |
| 1918 | #61 | 4,101 | #1,998 | 16 |
| 1917 | #61 | 3,927 | #1,900 | 16 |
| 1916 | #56 | 4,122 | #2,543 | 10 |
| 1915 | #57 | 3,888 | #1,878 | 15 |
| 1914 | #55 | 3,260 | #1,868 | 12 |
| 1913 | #47 | 2,952 | #1,441 | 14 |
| 1912 | #43 | 2,832 | #1,174 | 16 |
| 1911 | #40 | 2,279 | #1,190 | 9 |
| 1910 | #37 | 2,392 | #928 | 12 |
| 1909 | #35 | 2,276 | #840 | 12 |
| 1908 | #34 | 2,201 | #1,373 | 5 |
| 1907 | #30 | 2,311 | #815 | 11 |
| 1906 | #21 | 2,396 | #1,004 | 7 |
| 1905 | #20 | 2,446 | #836 | 9 |
| 1904 | #21 | 2,340 | #1,205 | 5 |
| 1903 | #21 | 2,339 | #576 | 15 |
| 1902 | #19 | 2,448 | #933 | 7 |
| 1901 | #21 | 2,183 | #637 | 11 |
| 1900 | #15 | 3,044 | #785 | 11 |
| 1899 | #19 | 2,280 | — | |
| 1898 | #16 | 2,647 | #1,002 | 6 |
| 1897 | #17 | 2,407 | #942 | 6 |
| 1896 | #18 | 2,435 | #641 | 12 |
| 1895 | #15 | 2,542 | #872 | 7 |
| 1894 | #13 | 2,520 | #521 | 15 |
| 1893 | #15 | 2,352 | #768 | 8 |
| 1892 | #13 | 2,541 | #597 | 12 |
| 1891 | #12 | 2,323 | #700 | 8 |
| 1890 | #11 | 2,370 | — | |
| 1889 | #9 | 2,343 | #789 | 7 |
| 1888 | #10 | 2,278 | #580 | 12 |
| 1887 | #13 | 1,838 | #921 | 5 |
| 1886 | #12 | 1,791 | #959 | 5 |
| 1885 | #13 | 1,588 | #765 | 7 |
| 1884 | #15 | 1,451 | #971 | 5 |
| 1883 | #18 | 1,241 | — | |
| 1882 | #18 | 1,144 | #652 | 9 |
| 1881 | #22 | 903 | #653 | 8 |
| 1880 | #23 | 796 | — | |
In the first year the SSA published name data, Bessie was already there! It came in at #23, and was given to 796 baby girls.
Quietest stretch: 2004, when fewer than 8 girls a year got the name.
Where Bessie is popular in 1926
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Mississippi#14 · 1 in 100
- Alabama#28 · 1 in 137
- South Carolina#33 · 1 in 145
- Georgia#33 · 1 in 155
- New Mexico#34 · 1 in 158
Best ever in a state: #6 in Alabama, 1911.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | #14 | 238 | 1 in 100 |
| Alabama | #28 | 237 | 1 in 137 |
| Georgia | #33 | 205 | 1 in 155 |
| South Carolina | #33 | 151 | 1 in 145 |
| New Mexico | #34 | 25 | 1 in 158 |
| North Carolina | #35 | 223 | 1 in 172 |
| Louisiana | #39 | 140 | 1 in 170 |
| Tennessee | #39 | 144 | 1 in 189 |
| Kentucky | #43 | 140 | 1 in 204 |
| Virginia | #48 | 122 | 1 in 213 |
| Arkansas | #49 | 101 | 1 in 204 |
| Texas | #57 | 213 | 1 in 281 |
| Delaware | #59 | 7 | 1 in 213 |
| Florida | #64 | 70 | 1 in 239 |
| Oklahoma | #64 | 87 | 1 in 288 |
| Hawaii | #76 | 14 | 1 in 252 |
| Missouri | #76 | 95 | 1 in 318 |
| West Virginia | #78 | 63 | 1 in 317 |
| District of Columbia | #86 | 10 | 1 in 346 |
| Maryland | #93 | 32 | 1 in 423 |
| Arizona | #110 | 10 | 1 in 388 |
| Colorado | #111 | 20 | 1 in 415 |
| Indiana | #115 | 49 | 1 in 533 |
| Vermont | #121 | 5 | 1 in 500 |
| Montana | #124 | 7 | 1 in 539 |
| Washington | #124 | 16 | 1 in 597 |
| Ohio | #129 | 83 | 1 in 654 |
| Utah | #135 | 9 | 1 in 536 |
| Illinois | #138 | 83 | 1 in 717 |
| Pennsylvania | #144 | 106 | 1 in 863 |
| Iowa | #147 | 24 | 1 in 828 |
| Nebraska | #153 | 14 | 1 in 808 |
| Oregon | #157 | 7 | 1 in 803 |
| Idaho | #159 | 5 | 1 in 702 |
| Kansas | #160 | 19 | 1 in 805 |
| South Dakota | #162 | 7 | 1 in 842 |
| California | #168 | 44 | 1 in 821 |
| Connecticut | #170 | 11 | 1 in 1,106 |
| Michigan | #171 | 37 | 1 in 1,107 |
| New Jersey | #171 | 27 | 1 in 1,129 |
| New York | #177 | 85 | 1 in 1,160 |
| Massachusetts | #179 | 25 | 1 in 1,388 |
| Maine | #186 | 7 | 1 in 928 |
| Wisconsin | #197 | 15 | 1 in 1,582 |
| Minnesota | #248 | 10 | 1 in 2,169 |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Nevada | — | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — |
| North Dakota | — | — | — |
| Rhode Island | — | — | — |
| Wyoming | — | — | — |
Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.
See more about Bessie
- 2,718 spots since 2024 (#9,556 → #6,838)
- 85 spots since 2020 (#6,923 → #6,838)
- 2,643 spots since 2015 (#9,481 → #6,838)
- Biggest jump: 76 spots in 1975 (#1,033 → #957)
- Biggest drop: 165 spots in 1976 (#957 → #1,122)
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1889 at #9 (2,343 births)
- Births halved by 1943, 54 yrs later
- Top 10: 2 yrs · run 1888–1889
- Top 100: 48 yrs · run 1880–1927
- Top 1,000: 95 yrs · run 1880–1973
- Highest: 1 in 76 girls born in 1889 were named Bessie (1.3%)
- Latest: 1 in 100,454 girls born in 2025 (0.00%)
- 19.9% of all girls named Bessie (33,859) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 15,373 | #9 (1889) | #15 |
| 1890s | 24,417 | #11 (1890) | #15 |
| 1900s | 23,984 | #15 (1900) | #24 |
| 1910s | 33,859 | #37 (1910) | #52 |
| 1920s | 32,158 | #71 (1920) | #87 |
| 1930s | 18,035 | #108 (1930) | #130 |
| 1940s | 11,062 | #162 (1940) | #202 |
| 1950s | 5,942 | #270 (1950) | #365 |
| 1960s | 2,592 | #493 (1960) | #634 |
| 1970s | 1,207 | #844 (1970) | #1,058 |
| 1980s | 749 | #1,253 (1981) | #1,652 |
| 1990s | 386 | #1,905 (1990) | #3,415 |
| 2000s | 180 | #3,983 (2000) | #7,465 |
| 2010s | 109 | #7,031 (2013) | #9,833 |
| 2020s | 87 | #6,691 (2021) | #7,548 |
All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.
Bessie in 1926
Top girls' names in 1926
Top boys' names in 1926
More about 1926
girls
1,185,401 girls got a published name in 1926; 1 in 388 of them was named Bessie, which outranked 98.4% of the 5,622 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.5% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
- ↑ 1,047Janell#1,795 → #748
- ↑ 389Madalyn#1,225 → #836
- ↑ 382Evangelina#1,324 → #942
- ↑ 379Carla#1,252 → #873
- ↑ 351Vilma#1,020 → #669
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,110,505 boys got a published name in 1926; 1 in 42,712 of them was named Bessie, which outranked 70.4% of the 4,837 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.0% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
- #1,404Sherwin27
- #1,404Torao27
- #1,404Vernell27
- #1,432Bessie26
- #1,432Adan26
- #1,432Algie26
- #1,432Beauford26
- #1,466Abelardo25
- #1,466Adell25
- #1,466Albino25
Tied with 33 names at #1,432; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
- ↓ 531Okey#984 → #1,515
- ↓ 459Florentino#973 → #1,432
- ↓ 407Rexford#924 → #1,331
- ↓ 380Marshal#973 → #1,353
- ↓ 378Coolidge#746 → #1,124
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.