Declining since 2019, #7,133 for girls today.
Popularity of Jessia since 1976
Babies named Jessia per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 38 |
| 1980s | 222 |
| 1990s | 73 |
| 2000s | 17 |
| 2010s | 177 |
| 2020s | 149 |
Meaning & origin
Jessia is a modern respelling of Jessica that first appeared in U.S. records in 1976. It reached its peak popularity in 2019, when it ranked among the top 7,000 names, but has since been falling in usage. As of 2025, about 1 in every 107,151 newborn girls is named Jessia. The name has not been recorded in any top state data, suggesting it remains a rare variation. While drawing from the Shakespearean classic, Jessia offers a streamlined, phonetic twist that appeals to parents seeking a distinctive but familiar sound.
Jessia is a modern respelling of Jessica, a name coined by William Shakespeare for his play 'The Merchant of Venice' (c. 1596), possibly derived from the Hebrew name Yiskah (meaning 'to behold' or 'wealth'). The variant Jessia emerged in the late 20th century, likely influenced by phonetic spelling and the appeal of unique -a endings. It has been used in the United States since 1976, following the broader trend of Jessica's popularity in the 1980s and 1990s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jess, Jessie, Jessi
Sibling names for Jessia
Names that share Jessia's style, for a brother or sister.
