Bedie
A feminine diminutive form of the name Betty or Elizabeth.
Name Census estimates that about 2 living Americans carry the first name Bedie. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Bedie today is around 102 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Bedie births was 1918 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Bedie. 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.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Bedie is about 102 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Bedies were born before 1934.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Bedie. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
2
~ 1 in 171,377,169 Americans
Peak year
1918
13 babies that year
Average age
102
years old
1937 SSA rank
#3,846
Tracked since 1903
Popularity
Bedie: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Bedie from the 1900s through to the 1930s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 37 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1910s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bedie 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 Bedie during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Bedies live
Origin
Meaning and history of Bedie
The name Bedie is a feminine given name of uncertain origin, but it is believed to have roots in ancient Germanic languages. One theory suggests that it is derived from the Old German word "bede," meaning "prayer" or "request," possibly indicating a connection to religious or spiritual practices.
Another theory proposes that Bedie might be a diminutive or shortened form of a longer name, such as Bedelia or Beatrice, which have Latin and French origins, respectively. However, the exact etymology of Bedie remains a matter of debate among onomastic scholars.
While there are no definitive historical references to the name Bedie in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it is believed to have been in use as a given name in various Germanic regions of Europe, particularly in areas where Old German dialects were spoken.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bedie can be found in the Domesday Book, a medieval census commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The book mentions a woman named Bedie who held land in the county of Oxfordshire, England.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Bedie. For instance, Bedie Denton (1701-1786) was an English writer and philanthropist known for her contributions to educational and charitable causes. Another notable figure was Bedie Wolfe (1825-1891), a German-American opera singer and vocal pedagogue who performed extensively in Europe and the United States.
In the realm of literature, Bedie Marks (1879-1952) was a British novelist and short story writer who gained recognition for her works exploring themes of social commentary and women's experiences. Additionally, Bedie Hoffmann (1902-1978) was a Swiss artist renowned for her vibrant paintings and her role in the Expressionist movement.
Lastly, Bedie Dill (1920-2003) was an American actress and theater director who made significant contributions to the performing arts community in New York City, where she worked extensively with various theater companies and productions.
People
Bedie + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Bedie 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
Bedie: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Bedie?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Bedie 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 171,377,169 US residents.
Is Bedie a common name?
We classify Bedie as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 77 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Bedie most popular?
The single biggest year for Bedie was 1918, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Bedie is about 102 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Bedie in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Bedie a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Bedie 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.
Is Bedie still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Bedie in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Bedie can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Bedie?
See how many people share the name Bedie on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.