Yesica

Meaning & origin

Yesica is a Spanish variant of Jessica that saw most of its usage in the United States during the 1990s. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1974 and reached its peak popularity in 1995, when it ranked highest among baby names. Since 2017, its usage has been gradually rising again, though it remains quite rare: in 2025, approximately 1 in 200,908 newborn girls received the name Yesica. The name is almost exclusively given to girls and has not appeared in any state's top names list. Its etymological roots trace back to the Hebrew name Yiskah, but its modern form owes much to Shakespeare's invention of Jessica. Yesica remains a distinctive choice for families seeking a familiar sound with a Spanish spelling.

Yesica is a Spanish variant spelling of Jessica, which itself was coined by William Shakespeare for his play The Merchant of Venice (circa 1596). Shakespeare likely adapted the name from the biblical Iscah (Yiskah in Hebrew), meaning 'he sees' or 'to look out.' In Hebrew, Yiskah appears in Genesis 11:29 as the name of Abraham's niece. The name Jessica gained popularity in the English-speaking world in the 20th century, and the Spanish variant Yesica emerged as a common form in Spanish-speaking communities.