Bess Name Meaning, Origin & Gender

Bess Name at a Glance

Name	Bess
Meaning	Diminutive of Elizabeth, meaning my god is bountiful, or god of plenty, used since the 16th century. Sometimes used as an independent name.
Origin	English
Gender	Girl

What Does the Name Bess Mean?

According to the information recorded in our baby name database, Bess means “Diminutive of Elizabeth, meaning my god is bountiful, or god of plenty, used since the 16th century. Sometimes used as an independent name”. Name meanings can vary between languages, regions and naming traditions, so families may also wish to confirm a meaning within the cultural or linguistic context that matters to them.

Bess Name Origin

Our database records Bess under English origin. Browse more English baby names to compare other names in the same origin collection.

Is Bess a Boy or Girl Name?

In our database, Bess is listed as a girl name. Usage can differ across countries, languages and families.

Choosing the Name Bess

When considering Bess for a baby, you may want to compare its recorded meaning and origin with family traditions, pronunciation, spelling, initials, middle names and how the full name sounds with the family name.