Holding steady, #6,838 for girls today.
Popularity of Dessa since 1880
Babies named Dessa per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2001, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Dessa's real moment was 1880.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 99 |
| 1890s | 98 |
| 1900s | 79 |
| 1910s | 152 |
| 1920s | 156 |
| 1930s | 111 |
| 1940s | 94 |
| 1950s | 125 |
| 1960s | 119 |
| 1970s | 118 |
| 1980s | 132 |
| 1990s | 101 |
| 2000s | 183 |
| 2010s | 175 |
| 2020s | 75 |
Meaning & origin
Dessa is a rare American name first recorded in 1880, when it reached its peak rank of 6838. In 2025, only about 1 in 100,454 baby girls received the name. The name has a stable trajectory, never experiencing a revival or significant spike. It remains a highly uncommon choice, with no top state concentrations. Dessa's etymology is uncertain, but its concise, melodic sound gives it a distinctive charm.
Dessa is a rare name that first appeared in the United States in the 1880s. Its origins are unclear; it may be a short form of names like Odessa or a variant of Tess. The name saw modest use in the late 19th and early 20th centuries but never gained widespread popularity.
Sibling names for Dessa
Names that share Dessa's style, for a brother or sister.
