Bebe
A French-derived feminine name meaning "baby" or "infant".
Name Census estimates that about 504 living Americans carry the first name Bebe. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Bebe today is around 56 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Bebe births was 1932 (61 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Bebe. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
504
~ 1 in 680,068 Americans
Peak year
1932
61 babies that year
Average age
56
years old
2024 SSA rank
#13,683
Tracked since 1904
Popularity
Bebe: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Bebe from the 1900s through to the 2020s, spanning 13 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 449 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bebe by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Bebe during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Bebes live
The SSA's state-level files cover 6 states and territories. Texas, New York, California recorded the most babies named Bebe, while Alabama, Pennsylvania, Georgia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 34 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Bebe
The given name Bebe has its origins in French, derived from the Old French word "bebe" meaning "baby" or "toddler." This term traces its roots back to the late 15th century when it was first recorded in written form. It is believed to have evolved from the repetitive babbling sounds made by infants, which eventually became associated with the concept of a young child.
In its early usage, Bebe was primarily a nickname or term of endearment for young children, rather than a formal given name. However, over time, it gradually transitioned into a standalone name, particularly popular among French-speaking communities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of Bebe as a given name can be found in the 17th century with Bebe Mavra, a French noblewoman born in 1632. She was a prominent figure at the court of King Louis XIV and is known for her patronage of the arts and literary salons.
Another notable figure bearing the name Bebe was Bebe Moore Campbell, an American author and teacher born in 1950. She gained recognition for her novels exploring themes of race, family, and social issues, including "Your Blues Ain't Like Mine" and "What You Owe Me." Campbell passed away in 2006.
In the realm of entertainment, Bebe Neuwirth, born in 1958, is a renowned American actress and dancer. She is best known for her portrayal of Lilith Crane on the television series "Cheers" and "Frasier," for which she won two Emmy Awards.
The name Bebe also has historical ties to the world of fashion. Bebe Daniels, born in 1901, was an American actress, singer, and producer who became a fashion icon during the silent film era. Her distinctive style and penchant for wearing beaded dresses and elaborate headpieces influenced fashion trends of the 1920s.
In the field of music, Bebe Rexha, born in 1989, is a contemporary American singer-songwriter known for hits like "Meant to Be" and "I'm a Mess." Her unique blend of pop and hip-hop has garnered her critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base.
While the name Bebe is commonly associated with French origins, it has also been adopted and used in various cultures around the world, each with its own unique interpretation and significance.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Bebe
People
Bebe + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Bebe as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Bebe: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Bebe?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 504 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Bebe going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 680,068 US residents.
Is Bebe a common name?
We classify Bebe as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,573 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Bebe most popular?
The single biggest year for Bebe was 1932, when 61 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Bebe is about 56 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Bebe a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Bebe in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.