Declining since 1994, #3,100 for girls today.
Popularity of Jessi since 1959
Babies named Jessi per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 5 | 0 |
| 1960s | 31 | 0 |
| 1970s | 527 | 76 |
| 1980s | 1,960 | 337 |
| 1990s | 1,929 | 471 |
| 2000s | 1,096 | 309 |
| 2010s | 698 | 103 |
| 2020s | 307 | 25 |
Meaning & origin
Jessi is a straightforward, phonetic spelling of the common nickname for Jessica. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1959 and reached its peak popularity in 1981, when it was far more common. Since 1994, its usage has been steadily declining, a trajectory that reflects the broader downturn of Jessica and its variants. In 2025, Jessi ranked 3,100 in the U.S., with approximately 1 in 30,909 girls receiving the name. The name saw the most use in Texas. As a diminutive, Jessi retains the warm, familiar feel of Jessica but with a more modern, minimalist spelling.
Jessi is a modern diminutive and spelling variant of Jessica, a name coined by William Shakespeare for his play The Merchant of Venice (c. 1596). Shakespeare likely derived Jessica from the biblical name Iscah (Hebrew Yiskah), meaning 'to behold' or 'wealth'. The spelling Jessi emerged as a simplified, phonetic form in the 20th century, particularly in the United States.
Where Jessi 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
Sibling names for Jessi
Names that share Jessi's style, for a brother or sister.
