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How Many People Are Named Bessie?
Estimated people named Bessie living in the U.S. today
18,824
Gender distribution
0% male · 100% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 170,860
- Peak year: 1916 (4,132 births)
- Estimated living today: 18,824
Bessie by age group — who carries the name today?
Bessie popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Bessie
Bessie has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 170,860 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 18,824 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 18,158 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Bessies you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Bessie in the US?
An estimated 18,824 people named Bessie are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Bessie rare — about 1 in 18,158 Americans.
Is Bessie a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Bessie is 0% male and 100% female, so it is predominantly a female name.
When was Bessie most popular?
Bessie peaked in 1916, when 4,132 babies were given the name. Its current trend is steady compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Bessie?
Bessie ranks #1,647 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 50 out of 100 (higher means rarer).