Bess
Peaked at #157 nationally in 1887, based on real US Social Security Administration birth records.
Girls vs. boys, all-time
Since 1880, Bess has been recorded >99% of the time for girls and <1% of the time for boys.
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Bess — Girls (United States)
StablePeak rank
#157
in 1887
Last ranked
#13858
in 2022
Years tracked
141
1880–2022
Trend
Stable
Tracked since 1880, Bess reached its peak popularity for girls in 1887, ranking #157 nationally with 155 babies given the name that year.
Bess hasn't appeared among the national top ranks for girls since 2022, when it stood at #13858.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | #13,858 | 6 |
| 2020 | #11,255 | 8 |
| 2019 | #15,908 | 5 |
| 2018 | #12,697 | 7 |
| 2016 | #14,621 | 6 |
| 2015 | #14,794 | 6 |
| 2014 | #12,122 | 8 |
| 2013 | #13,400 | 7 |
Bess — Boys (United States)
Limited dataPeak rank
#1096
in 1894
Last ranked
#1096
in 1894
Years tracked
1
1894–1894
Trend
Limited data
Bess was already at its most popular for boys in 1894 (the earliest year in this data, ranked #1096), with 5 babies given the name that year.
Bess hasn't appeared among the national top ranks for boys since 1894, when it stood at #1096.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 1894 | #1,096 | 5 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, National Data, 1880–2024.
Similar trajectory
Other names that peaked around the same era and rose or fell on a comparable curve.
Based on US data — girls' names only.
Common Questions
When was Bess most popular?
Bess was most popular in 1887, when it ranked #157 nationally for girls — the highest rank it has reached in this data.
Is Bess becoming more or less popular?
For girls, it's currently stable; for boys, it's currently insufficient data, based on the last decade of SSA data.
How many babies have been named Bess?
At least 7,171 babies have been recorded with the name Bess in the US since 1880, according to Social Security Administration birth records.
Looking for more name ideas like Bess? Try the Baby Name Generator or compare it against other names on the Name Trends hub.