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 1942
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Mississippi#33 · 1 in 164
- South Carolina#59 · 1 in 256
- Alabama#63 · 1 in 276
- Georgia#76 · 1 in 338
- New Mexico#95 · 1 in 324
Best ever in a state: #6 in Alabama, 1911.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | #33 | 148 | 1 in 164 |
| South Carolina | #59 | 93 | 1 in 256 |
| Alabama | #63 | 120 | 1 in 276 |
| Georgia | #76 | 104 | 1 in 338 |
| New Mexico | #95 | 18 | 1 in 324 |
| Tennessee | #95 | 67 | 1 in 468 |
| Kentucky | #97 | 57 | 1 in 515 |
| Virginia | #105 | 62 | 1 in 471 |
| North Carolina | #111 | 85 | 1 in 493 |
| Arizona | #113 | 15 | 1 in 390 |
| Oklahoma | #121 | 32 | 1 in 637 |
| Louisiana | #122 | 53 | 1 in 496 |
| West Virginia | #123 | 31 | 1 in 663 |
| Arkansas | #127 | 38 | 1 in 536 |
| Florida | #157 | 27 | 1 in 659 |
| Missouri | #181 | 28 | 1 in 1,155 |
| Texas | #186 | 73 | 1 in 918 |
| Maryland | #203 | 13 | 1 in 1,361 |
| Colorado | #241 | 6 | 1 in 1,652 |
| Ohio | #262 | 25 | 1 in 2,635 |
| Pennsylvania | #266 | 32 | 1 in 2,814 |
| Iowa | #296 | 7 | 1 in 3,018 |
| California | #309 | 27 | 1 in 2,556 |
| Illinois | #341 | 19 | 1 in 3,711 |
| Michigan | #373 | 11 | 1 in 5,067 |
| New Jersey | #373 | 7 | 1 in 5,098 |
| New York | #388 | 22 | 1 in 5,139 |
| Indiana | #437 | 5 | 1 in 6,392 |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Connecticut | — | — | — |
| Delaware | — | — | — |
| District of Columbia | — | — | — |
| Hawaii | — | — | — |
| Idaho | — | — | — |
| Kansas | — | — | — |
| Maine | — | — | — |
| Massachusetts | — | — | — |
| Minnesota | — | — | — |
| Montana | — | — | — |
| Nebraska | — | — | — |
| Nevada | — | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — |
| North Dakota | — | — | — |
| Oregon | — | — | — |
| Rhode Island | — | — | — |
| South Dakota | — | — | — |
| Utah | — | — | — |
| Vermont | — | — | — |
| Washington | — | — | — |
| Wisconsin | — | — | — |
| 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 1942
Top girls' names in 1942
Top boys' names in 1942
More about 1942
girls
1,350,719 girls got a published name in 1942; 1 in 1,067 of them was named Bessie, which outranked 96.7% of the 5,378 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,381,161 boys got a published name in 1942; 1 in 230,194 of them was named Bessie, which outranked 20.6% of the 4,044 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).