Bessie

Bessie as a name

Bessie is a feminine given name of English origin. It is a diminutive form of the name Elizabeth, which means “my God is abundance” or “God is my oath” in Hebrew. Bessie was a popular name in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but it has become less common in recent decades.

Bessie is also associated with Bessie Smith, an American blues singer who was popular in the 1920s and 1930s. She was known as the “Empress of the Blues” and was one of the most popular and successful female blues singers of her time.