BESS  

Gender: F
Origin: Diminutive of ELIZABETH

Declared its independence as far back as the reign of Elizabeth I, yet now sounds less passé than Beth or Betsy.

Variations:
Bessa, Besse

Bess is being discussed in our message boards:

• Poll: Once a Nickname... Always a Nickname???
• help with a middle name
• Good 1-syllable middle names
• Second Girl, Fourth Child--Suggestions?
• Octuplets

Read Nameberry blog posts about Bess:

• ELIZABETH: The Name That Has Everything?
• THE SECRET CONFESSIONS OF A GIRL CALLED (gulp) BESSIE