About the name Bess
Bess is a girl name with Biblical Hebrew roots, meaning “my God is an oath”. It is related to Elizabeth, which is where the meaning comes from.
It has a unique, short & sweet feel. In 2025, Bess ranked #15307 for girls in the US, with 5 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 1981. Since 2000, 100% of US babies named Bess were girls.
Etymology
A diminutive of Elizabeth, which comes from Biblical Hebrew, meaning “my God is an oath”.
Name meaning adapted from Wiktionary (“Bess”, “Elizabeth”) by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- US rank 2025
- #15307
- In 2015
- #14797
- Babies in 2025
- 5
Popularity of Bess, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Hello, world
Bess
Your last name
born on your big day
7 LB 4 OZ · 20 IN
The Baby Kit
See Bess on a birth announcement
Birth announcements, shower invitations, nursery wall art and milestone cards, all personalized with Bess. Type your details once and print at home or at any print shop.
Nicknames for Bess
Bess is already short and sweet, so it doesn't usually get a nickname.
Names similar to Bess
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.