Declining since 1985, #5,208 for boys today.
Popularity of Jess since 1880
Babies named Jess per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1915, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Jess's real moment was 1886.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 1,182 |
| 1890s | 1,013 |
| 1900s | 897 |
| 1910s | 2,974 |
| 1920s | 2,653 |
| 1930s | 1,699 |
| 1940s | 1,998 |
| 1950s | 2,447 |
| 1960s | 2,315 |
| 1970s | 2,781 |
| 1980s | 2,565 |
| 1990s | 1,424 |
| 2000s | 681 |
| 2010s | 305 |
| 2020s | 129 |
Meaning & origin
Jess is a concise, friendly name with roots in both Hebrew tradition and English literary invention. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1880, and its peak usage came in 1886 when it ranked as high as 5208. By 2025, the name had become much rarer, with only about 1 in 94,893 newborns receiving it. Its trajectory has been falling since 1985, reflecting a shift away from both the formal names Jesse and Jessica, for which Jess often serves as a nickname. As a standalone name, Jess offers a short, approachable option that works across genders, though its regional distribution in the U.S. is not concentrated in any particular state.
Jess originated as a short form of Jesse, a Hebrew name meaning 'gift' or 'God exists.' It also serves as a nickname for Jessica, a name invented by Shakespeare for *The Merchant of Venice* (c. 1596). As an independent given name, Jess gained limited use in the late 19th century, especially as a masculine name, but has since become more common as a unisex or feminine option.
Where Jess is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Jess” around the world
Where Jess lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Ireland
6
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Sibling names for Jess
Names that share Jess's style, for a brother or sister.
