The nameVanessa
Vanessa is a girl's name invented by Jonathan Swift in 1726. It reached the American top 50 in the 1990s.
- Girl's name
- English
Meaning
Vanessa was created by Jonathan Swift from the first letters of the surname and first name of his friend Esther Vanhomrigh.
Origin
English. Swift used it in his poem Cadenus and Vanessa. A genus of butterflies was later named Vanessa.
History
The painter Vanessa Bell, sister of Virginia Woolf, and the actress Vanessa Redgrave made it famous. It reached the American top 50.
Vanessa in other languages
Vanessa is spelled the same in English, French, Italian, Spanish, German and Portuguese. The word is also the name of a genus of butterflies, including the painted lady and the red admiral.
Nicknames for Vanessa
The most common nicknames for Vanessa: Nessa and Ness.
Did you know?
- The name is thought to have been invented by Jonathan Swift in his poem Cadenus and Vanessa, published in 1726.
- Vanessa Paradis was 14 when her song Joe le taxi became a hit in 1987.
Famous people named Vanessa
- Vanessa Bell, painter
- Vanessa Redgrave, actress
- Vanessa Paradis, singer and actress
- Vanessa Williams, singer and actress
Popularity of the name Vanessa
Vanessa in the United States
Vanessa was most popular in the United States in the 1980s, with 66,184 births over the decade, 25% of all recorded babies named Vanessa. Its rise began around 1953, and it peaked in 1985. Half of all babies named Vanessa in the United States were born before 1989, so it is mostly a parents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 1,116 births a year on average, against 1,503 in the five years before.
Vanessa in the United Kingdom
Vanessa was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 1,713 births over the decade, 44% of all recorded babies named Vanessa. Half of all babies named Vanessa in the United Kingdom were born before 2010, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 74 births a year on average, against 110 in the five years before.
Vanessa in Ireland
Vanessa in France
Vanessa in Belgium
Vanessa in Switzerland
Vanessa in Austria
Vanessa in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Vanessa
Names from the same generation as Vanessa, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Vanessa? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Vanessa with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Vanessa side by side with the name of your choice.
Vanessa in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Vanessa mean?
Vanessa was created by Jonathan Swift from the first letters of the surname and first name of his friend Esther Vanhomrigh.
What is the origin of the name Vanessa?
English. Swift used it in his poem Cadenus and Vanessa. A genus of butterflies was later named Vanessa.
Is Vanessa a girl's or a boy's name?
Vanessa is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Vanessa?
In 2024, Vanessa was the 334th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 933 births.
What are the variants of the name Vanessa?
Variants and related names of Vanessa include Nessa.
What are good sibling names for Vanessa?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Faith, Taylor, Madison and Hailey for a sister, Jake, Andy, Brandon and Tyler for a brother.
What are common nicknames for Vanessa?
The most common nicknames for Vanessa are Nessa and Ness.
Who are famous people named Vanessa?
Vanessa Bell, painter; Vanessa Redgrave, actress; Vanessa Paradis, singer and actress; Vanessa Williams, singer and actress.