Vanessa: Meaning, origin and popularity
Pronounced vuh-NES-uh · 3 syllables
Coined by Jonathan Swift in the 18th century as a pseudonym for a lady friend named Esther Vanhomrigh (or Van Homrigh), an Irish woman of Dutch descent, by taking the Dutch preposition van from her surname and adding -essa (perhaps influenced by the first syllable of Esther).
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- vuh-NES-uh
- US rank (2025)
- #377
- US babies a year
- about 1,006 (2021–2025)
- Peak
- around 1980
How popular is Vanessa?
Vanessa was the #377 name in the US in 2025, given to 813 babies. It’s used less than it was: down 54% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 1980.
Around the world
| Country | Rank |
|---|---|
| United States | #377 |
| England & Wales | #665 |
| Scotland | #276 |
| Ireland | #409 |
| Norway | #182 |
| Canada | #414 |
How old are people named Vanessa?
Half of US adults named Vanessa are older than 38; most are between 20 and 68. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)
Sibling names for Vanessa
Names that real brothers and sisters of people named Vanessa have, from family records on Wikidata, most common first.
Names like Vanessa
Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.
Questions about Vanessa
How do you pronounce Vanessa?
Vanessa is pronounced vuh-NES-uh.
How popular is the name Vanessa?
Vanessa was the #377 name in the US in 2025, given to 813 babies. It’s used less than it was: down 54% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 1980.
How old are people named Vanessa?
Half of US adults named Vanessa are older than 38. Most are between 20 and 68.