Declining since 1991, #11,932 for girls today.
Popularity of Jessika since 1968
Babies named Jessika per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 6 |
| 1970s | 338 |
| 1980s | 1,597 |
| 1990s | 2,672 |
| 2000s | 998 |
| 2010s | 320 |
| 2020s | 38 |
Meaning & origin
Jessika is a spelling variant of Jessica, a name famously coined by Shakespeare. This particular form saw its first recorded use in the United States in 1968 and reached its peak popularity in 1990, when it ranked within the top 1,000 names. Since 1991, its usage has been falling, reflecting a broader trend away from Jessica and its variants. In 2025, it ranked 11,932, with approximately 1 in every 229,610 newborn girls receiving the name. Though Jessika has never achieved widespread use, it remains a recognizable alternative to the more common Jessica, particularly among families seeking a distinctive spelling.
Jessika is a spelling variant of Jessica, a name coined by William Shakespeare in his play The Merchant of Venice (circa 1596), derived from the Hebrew name Yiskah (Iscah in English), meaning 'to behold' or 'God beholds.' Though a modern invention, Jessica became widely used in the English-speaking world from the 20th century onward. The variant Jessika is a phonetic spelling that emerged in the mid-20th century, influenced by Germanic and Scandinavian naming patterns.
Where Jessika 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, Jessie
Sibling names for Jessika
Names that share Jessika's style, for a brother or sister.
