Declining since 2015, #2,214 for girls today.
Popularity of Jessa since 1918
Babies named Jessa per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 |
| 1920s | 0 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 148 |
| 1980s | 428 |
| 1990s | 960 |
| 2000s | 1,168 |
| 2010s | 3,007 |
| 2020s | 746 |
Meaning & origin
Jessa is a name with modest but steady usage in the United States, first recorded in 1918. It reached its peak rank of 2,214 and highest popularity in 2015, when 1 in 19,365 baby girls received the name. Since then, its trajectory has been falling. The name is most common in Florida, New York, and Texas. Jessa is generally viewed as a modern, feminine name that blends well with contemporary naming styles, often chosen for its soft sound and connection to the more familiar Jessica. While its exact derivation is debated, the name shares roots with the Hebrew Yiskah, meaning 'to behold,' and has been a part of the American naming landscape for over a century.
Jessa is typically considered a feminine given name, likely a variant of Jessie, which itself derives from the name Jessica. Jessica is believed to have been coined by William Shakespeare for his play 'The Merchant of Venice' (1596), possibly based on the Hebrew name Yiskah (or Iscah), meaning 'to behold' or 'foresight.' In some cases, Jessa may also be an elaborated form of Jes(s)-, a diminutive of names like Jessica or Jesse, with a common -a suffix. The name has been in use since at least the early 20th century, with its first recorded appearance in U.S. birth records in 1918.
Where Jessa is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jess, Jessi, Jay
Sibling names for Jessa
Names that share Jessa's style, for a brother or sister.
