How Many People Are Named Bess?
Complete statistics for the name Bess: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Bess, a very rare female name, has only 1,404 people bearing it in the US today, making up just 1 in 234,970 Americans. That's pretty unique! With most Besses over 60, it's clear this name leans towards the older generation.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life-path number 9 symbolizes compassion, understanding, and humanitarianism.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 108All 7,125 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1889Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Slowly declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Bess Through the Generations
Bess peaked way back in 1889 with 182 births, but it's still hanging around, albeit slowly declining. Today, there are 203 under-30s, 652 aged 30-60, and a whopping 6,270 over-60s, showing how much this name is associated with older folks. It's a classic, old-school choice that's been around for ages, though its popularity has waned over time.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Bess's Old English roots
📄 About the Name Bess
How Many People Have the Name Bess?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 9,156 people in the United States currently share the name Bess. That works out to roughly 1 in every 36,200 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.
Is Bess a Common or Rare Name?
Bess is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Bess in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.
When Was Bess Most Popular?
The name Bess reached peak popularity in 1889, with 182 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Bess?
Approximately 9,156 people named Bess live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 9,156. That works out to roughly 1 in 36,200 Americans.
Is Bess a rare name?
Bess is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 36,200 Americans has this name.
What does the name Bess mean?
The meaning and origin of Bess are shown in the Meaning & Origin section on this page.
Is Bess more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Bess are male and 100% are female.
When was Bess most popular?
Bess peaked in 1889 with 182 births that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.