Jessica
Jessica is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Foresight or to behold.
Origin and history
Jessica is derived from the Biblical Hebrew name Iscah, meaning 'foresight' or 'to behold'. Although historically and predominantly used as a feminine name, it has recorded rare male usage in official U.S. birth records. It gained massive cultural prominence through Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice before becoming one of the most popular female names in late 20th-century America.
Popularity in the United States
3,578 babies in the United States have been named Jessica since 1880. It ranks #2144 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- CA (29 %)
- TX (12.9 %)
- NY (11.9 %)
- DC (5.3 %)
- OH (5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 55 |
| 1970-1980 | 528 |
| 1980-1990 | 2,020 |
| 1990-2000 | 769 |
| 2000-2010 | 186 |
| 2010-2019 | 20 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Nicknames
Jess, Jessie, Jessa
Fun facts
- The name in its modern English spelling was first created and popularized by William Shakespeare for the character of Shylock's daughter in The Merchant of Venice.
- Jessica was the number one most popular name for girls in the United States for several years during the 1980s and 1990s.