Bess

Bess is a girl's name of English origin. Its meaning is not recorded in the standard references we check — we would rather tell you that plainly than guess. In England & Wales it was given to 3 girls in 2024.

Bess at a glance

Gender
Girl name
Origin
English & American
Meaning
Not recorded in standard references

About the name Bess

Bess belongs to the English & American tradition. Its roots are documented, even though its precise meaning is not recorded in the standard references — an honest gap we prefer to a confident guess.

In the United States, Bess first appears in Social Security records in 1880. It climbed to its best-ever rank of #157 in 1887, and in 2024 0 babies received the name — 7,166 in total since 1880. Those are the official counts, not estimates.

Bess in US records

First recorded (US)
1880
Best US rank
#157 in 1887
Peak year
1889
Total since 1880
7,166

Bess in England & Wales records

First recorded (since 1996)
1999
Best rank
#1966 in 2014
Babies named Bess in 2024
3
Total since 1996
134

Similar names

More names from the English & American shelf:

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Bess mean?

The meaning of Bess is not recorded in the standard references we check. Rather than repeat an unsourced claim, we leave it open — its English origin is documented, but its exact meaning is not.

Is Bess a boy or girl name?

Bess is a girl name. In England & Wales, 3 babies received the name in 2024.

What origin is the name Bess?

Bess comes from the English & American tradition.

How popular is the name Bess?

Bess first appears in US records in 1880. Its best-ever ranking was #157 in 1887, and 0 babies were given the name in 2024.

This profile is built from the US Social Security Administration's public baby-names data — see the source. Its meaning is not recorded in the standard references we check. If you spot an error, write to [email protected].