Declining since 1985, #377 for girls today.
Popularity of Vanessa since 1900
Babies named Vanessa per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 6 |
| 1910s | 35 |
| 1920s | 51 |
| 1930s | 124 |
| 1940s | 295 |
| 1950s | 19,170 |
| 1960s | 20,983 |
| 1970s | 28,077 |
| 1980s | 65,731 |
| 1990s | 57,920 |
| 2000s | 43,229 |
| 2010s | 19,600 |
| 2020s | 6,401 |
Meaning & origin
Vanessa is a literary name coined by Jonathan Swift around 1713 for his poem 'Cadenus and Vanessa.' From its beginnings as a private nickname for Esther Vanhomrigh, it gained broader use as a given name by the 19th century, helped along by popular culture. The name reached its peak popularity in the United States in 1985, when it ranked in the top 50. Since then, its use has declined; in 2025 it ranked 377th, with approximately 1 in 1,977 newborn girls receiving the name. Geographically, Vanessa has been most common in Hawaii, Nevada, and Idaho. Its masculine counterpart, Van, is sometimes used. The butterfly genus Vanessa, named after Swift's character, has reinforced the name's delicate, natural image.
The name Vanessa was coined by the Anglo-Irish writer Jonathan Swift for a 1713 poem. He formed it by taking the first syllables from the surname of his friend and lover Esther Vanhomrigh (Van- from Vanhomrigh, -essa from Esther). It has since been used as a given name, and in the 18th century the genus of butterflies Vanessa was named after the literary character, lending the name a butterfly association.
Where Vanessa 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.
“Vanessa” around the world
Where Vanessa lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
30
babies in 2024
Ireland
9
babies in 2025
Quebec
5
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nessa, Vanny, V
Sibling names for Vanessa
Names that share Vanessa's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Melissa, Ariana, Samantha, Julia, Natalie, Alexis, Angelia, Jessica, Jillian, Veronica, Denisse, Janessa, Jenessa, Jordana, Maranda, Melanee, Melisa, Stephany, Valarie, Venessa, Yoselin, Cassondra, Cinthya, Dannielle, Devonna, Elicia, Jasmyne, Jesika, Jesseca, Laticia, Malisa, Melannie, Melissia, Melyssa, Samatha, Stefany, Annessa, Banessa, Carrisa, Chrystina, Ellissa, Erikka, Jennessa, Juliza, Lanessa, Letricia, Lisseth, Maressa, Melessa, Mellanie, Prisilla, Sintia, Tamora, Terisa, Trishia, Vanisha, Vernessa, Waleska, Yanessa, Amenda, Cynethia, Darianny, Denielle, Essica, Esthefany, Felishia, Jhoselyn, Laressa, Melanye, Morrisa, Phylicia, Renessa, Sheresa, Sinthia, Smantha, Stefanny, Tanessa, Taressa, Tessica, Vaness, Vanessia, Vennessa, Veroncia, Vicci, Vickye, Cynthya, Merrissa, Stephanye, Cythina, Deerica, Denessa, Jesicca, Jessieca, Jonessa, Jullisa, Manessa, Marissah, Melainie, Melisssa, Robecca, Valissa, Vallarie, Vanecia, Venesa, Vernica, Vickii, Vinessa, Yessika
Brothers: Jonathan, Alexander, Ethan, Nicholas, Julian, Vinson, Ederson, Edilson, Marcellis, Vencent
Names like Vanessa
Names whose popularity has moved with Vanessa's over the last 50 years.
