Declining since 2006.
Popularity of Jennessa since 1976
Babies named Jennessa per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 14 |
| 1980s | 80 |
| 1990s | 145 |
| 2000s | 241 |
| 2010s | 138 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Jennessa is a feminine given name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1976, during the height of the Jennifer name phenomenon. Though it never entered the top 1000 rankings, it reached its peak usage in 2006, after which its trajectory has been steadily falling. The name is a modern coinage, likely combining the popular nickname Jenny with the fashionable -essa suffix seen in names like Vanessa and Marissa. Its similarity to Jennifer, which was the number one girls' name in the United States for much of the 1970s and 1980s, likely contributed to its early adoption. However, Jennessa remains a rare choice, with no recorded births in many recent years and no concentrated popularity in any particular state.
Jennessa is a modern elaboration of Jenny, itself a diminutive of Jennifer. Jennifer is the Cornish form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar, composed of elements meaning 'white, fair' and 'smooth, yielding' or 'phantom'. The name emerged in the United States in the 1970s, likely influenced by the popularity of Jennifer and similar -essa endings.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jen, Nessa
Sibling names for Jennessa
Names that share Jennessa's style, for a brother or sister.
