Jessica
Jessica is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Foresight or to behold.
Origin and history
Jessica is a classic feminine name derived from the Biblical Hebrew name Iscah, meaning 'foresight' or 'to behold'. The modern spelling was famously invented by William Shakespeare for a character in his 1596 play 'The Merchant of Venice'. It became one of the most popular female names in the United States during the late 20th century.
Popularity in the United States
1,050,729 babies in the United States have been named Jessica since 1880. It ranks #11 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #511.
States where it is most popular
- CA (13 %)
- TX (7.6 %)
- NY (7.2 %)
- FL (4.5 %)
- IL (4.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 94 |
| 1890-1900 | 135 |
| 1900-1910 | 159 |
| 1910-1920 | 411 |
| 1920-1930 | 410 |
| 1930-1940 | 499 |
| 1940-1950 | 2,204 |
| 1950-1960 | 4,559 |
| 1960-1970 | 13,671 |
| 1970-1980 | 143,492 |
| 1980-1990 | 469,510 |
| 1990-2000 | 303,136 |
| 2000-2010 | 90,665 |
| 2010-2019 | 18,227 |
| 2020-2029 | 3,557 |
Famous people named Jessica
- Jessica Lange: Actress
- Jessica Chastain: Actress, Producer
- Jessica Alba: Actress, Entrepreneur
Nicknames
Jess, Jessie, Jessi
Fun facts
- The exact modern spelling 'Jessica' first appeared in William Shakespeare's 1596 play 'The Merchant of Venice'.
- Jessica was the single most popular girls' name in the United States for several years during the late 20th century.