Jessa
Jessa is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
To behold, foresighted, or gift.
Origin and history
Jessa is a modern English feminine name, derived either as a short form of Jessica or as a variant of Jesse. Jessica is traditionally traced to the biblical Hebrew name Yiskah, meaning 'to behold' or 'foresight'. In the United States, Jessa gained popularity in recent decades as an approachable, modern alternative to Jessica.
Popularity in the United States
6,462 babies in the United States have been named Jessa since 1880. It ranks #2116 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1377.
States where it is most popular
- TX (13.6 %)
- CA (12.4 %)
- OH (6 %)
- FL (6 %)
- IL (5.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 5 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 0 |
| 1970-1980 | 148 |
| 1980-1990 | 428 |
| 1990-2000 | 960 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,168 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,007 |
| 2020-2029 | 746 |
Famous people named Jessa
- Jessa Seewald: Television Personality
Nicknames
Jess
Fun facts
- The parent name Jessica was first popularized by William Shakespeare in his play The Merchant of Venice.
- Jessa emerged as an independent given name in the late 20th century as part of a trend toward shorter, friendly names.