Rising since 2012, #8,910 for boys today.
Popularity of Ness since 2004
Babies named Ness per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0 | 6 |
| 2010s | 0 | 43 |
| 2020s | 8 | 47 |
Meaning & origin
Ness is a modern, rare given name that first appeared in U.S. records in 2004. Its origin is uncertain but likely derives from a Scottish or English surname meaning 'headland', or as a short form of Vanessa or Agnes. It has been on an upward trajectory since 2012 and reached its peak rank in 2018, though it remains uncommon with approximately 1 in 213510 births in the most recent year. The name has not yet recorded any top state concentrations, reflecting its widespread but sparse usage. Ness fits a contemporary trend of short, surname-style names ending in 's', similar to Miles or Hayes.
Ness is likely a modern English surname turned given name. It may derive from the Scottish Gaelic 'ness' meaning 'headland' or 'promontory', or from a short form of Vanessa (invented by Jonathan Swift) or Agnes (Greek 'hagnē' meaning 'chaste'). Its use as a first name is recent, first recorded in U.S. data in 2004.
“Ness” around the world
Where Ness lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
15
babies in 2024
Quebec
6
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Sibling names for Ness
Names that share Ness's style, for a brother or sister.
