Holding steady.
Popularity of Vanissa since 1955
Babies named Vanissa per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 25 |
| 1960s | 41 |
| 1970s | 73 |
| 1980s | 56 |
| 1990s | 39 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Vanissa is a rare American respelling of the literary name Vanessa, first recorded in U.S. data in 1955. It reached its peak popularity in 1971, when it was most used, though it never entered the top 1000. In 2025, its 1 in N was null, meaning it is given to fewer than 5 babies per year, making it truly uncommon. The name remains consistently rare, with a stable trajectory since its peak. Its usage likely reflects a 1970s trend for elaborated 'V' names and soft, feminine endings. Though the Social Security data shows no top states associated with the name, its distribution suggests scattered use across the country.
Vanissa is a variant of Vanessa, a name invented by the Anglo-Irish writer Jonathan Swift around 1713 for his poem 'Cadenus and Vanessa', blending elements from the name Esther Vanhomrigh. The name was later adopted for a genus of butterflies, leading to associations with the insect. The variant Vanissa likely emerged as a modern respelling in the 20th century, gaining modest usage in the United States from the 1950s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nissa, Vani, Ness
Sibling names for Vanissa
Names that share Vanissa's style, for a brother or sister.
