Bessie

Bessie is an English pet form of Elizabeth, which derives from the Hebrew name Elisheba, meaning something along the lines of "my God is an oath" or "my God is abundance." It was widely used as an independent given name in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, particularly in Britain and the United States. The name is associated with celebrated figures such as Bessie Smith, the influential American blues singer, and Bessie Coleman, the pioneering aviator. Related forms include Bess, Betsy, Betty, and Eliza.