Can Bessie Move Out of the Pastures and Into the Nurseries?

Lately the name [name_f]Bessie[/name_f] has really grown on me. It’s nearly identical to one of my top names, [name_f]Betsy[/name_f], and for me, it still holds that classic, Victorian feminine style that I always seem drawn to.

I’ve been seeing a lot of Miss [name_f]Bessie[/name_f] lately, with the following combos:

[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]May[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]

Stats wise, it’s gotten up to 28 births in [name_f]England[/name_f] and [name_m]Wales[/name_m], and it received 17 births in the US last year.

Does [name_f]Bessie[/name_f] show any future as a given name? If yes, what middles would you give to it? (No, I cannot lengthen [name_f]Bessie[/name_f] to [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], as [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] is my mum’s name, but I may consider [name_f]Bessie[/name_f] as a nn for [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]).

I think [name_f]Bessie[/name_f] stands well on its own, and I can see a [name_f]Bessie[/name_f] at any age. I do agree that it has a Victorian charm and a lot of spunk. It sort of fits in with the [name_f]Wendy[/name_f], [name_f]Betsy[/name_f], [name_f]Betty[/name_f], [name_f]Winnie[/name_f], [name_u]Vinnie[/name_u] group, which I love (particularly [name_f]Wendy[/name_f], [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] and [name_u]Vinnie[/name_u]).

I think a lovely vintage mn would fit nicely. [name_m]How[/name_m] about:
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Faye[/name_f] / [name_f]Fay[/name_f] / [name_f]Fae[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Maude[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Fern[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Opal[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Bea[/name_f] / [name_f]Bee[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Elspeth[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Lilibet[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_u]Lou[/name_u]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Ruth[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Iris[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Edith[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Adele[/name_f] / [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] / [name_f]Adela[/name_f] / [name_f]Adelie[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Elise[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Florence[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Elva[/name_f] / [name_u]Alva[/name_u]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Luna[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Nell[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Cora[/name_f] / [name_f]Nora[/name_f] / [name_f]Cara[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Mina[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Frances[/name_f]

I’m still on the fence about [name_f]Bessie[/name_f], but I like [name_f]Bess[/name_f] quite a bit and can see it gaining popularity as [name_f]Tess[/name_f] makes a come back. As a girl, I always liked [name_f]Bess[/name_f] in the [name_f]Nancy[/name_f] [name_u]Drew[/name_u] books.

In all honesty, [name_f]Bessie[/name_f] reminds me
Of a cow name. You may not get that connotation if you are not in a rural area though

I vastly prefer [name_f]Betsy[/name_f]

@nooshi - I really like [name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Florence[/name_f], [name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] and [name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f], thank you :slight_smile:

@davisellu - I’m the same way :confused: I do like [name_f]Bess[/name_f], but I feel like the ‘ie’ makes it a bit more in line with what I like.

@newald - I currently live in a rural area, but I hate it, so hopefully when I have children, I’ll be in city. However, there aren’t many cattle farms here.

@kmdharrington - I prefer [name_f]Betsy[/name_f] as well, but I do still feel drawn to [name_f]Bessie[/name_f].

I don’t know about [name_f]Bessie[/name_f] but I do know an adult [name_f]Bess[/name_f]. (Well [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] nn [name_f]Bess[/name_f]) but she makes [name_f]Bess[/name_f] work. I think [name_f]Bessie[/name_f] is cute for a kid but doesn’t necessarily age particularly well - I do think of cow’s and overweight panting aunts.

I’m on the fence about this one… I love old-fashioned names, but this one seems like a spinster name to me. Then I look at it another way and think that it’s spunky and has its own unique charm. Some combos with [name_f]Bessie[/name_f] that I like are:
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Lydia[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_u]Leigh[/name_u]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Elinor[/name_f]

I really like [name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Elinor[/name_f]/[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], thank you :slight_smile:

I know an eight year old [name_f]Bessie[/name_f]. I think it is VERY cute.

I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_f]Bessie[/name_f]. It’s on my list. It’s tricky because I like the idea of using a full name, but I much prefer [name_f]Bessie[/name_f] over the name [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]. I also feel the same way about [name_f]Lottie[/name_f] and [name_f]Elsie[/name_f]. I quite like your idea of [name_f]Bessie[/name_f] as a nickname for [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] though! I hadn’t thought of that. That might be an option for me.
I’m actually not a fan of [name_f]Betsy[/name_f]… [name_f]Bessie[/name_f] seems softer and sweeter.

Only as a nickname. The adult may miss not having a formal name for documents or professional reasons.