Bessie

Bessie is an English pet form of Elizabeth, which traces back through Latin and Greek to the Hebrew name Elisheba, meaning something along the lines of "my God is an oath" or "my God is abundance." It emerged as a familiar diminutive in the nineteenth century and became widely popular in English-speaking countries. The name is closely associated with Bessie Smith, the celebrated American blues singer of the early twentieth century. Related forms include Bess, Betsy, Betty, and Eliza.