Vanesa
Vanesa is a girl's name of English origin.
Meaning
Literary creation; derived from Esther Vanhomrigh's name.
Origin and history
Vanesa is a variant spelling of Vanessa, a name invented by the author Jonathan Swift in the early 18th century for his friend Esther Vanhomrigh. It was created by combining 'Van-' from her surname with 'Essa', a diminutive of Esther. In the United States, Vanesa is a moderately used alternative spelling, popular in both English- and Spanish-speaking communities.
Popularity in the United States
6,539 babies in the United States have been named Vanesa since 1880. It ranks #2100 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1954.
States where it is most popular
- CA (40.7 %)
- TX (17.9 %)
- IL (7.8 %)
- NY (7.7 %)
- FL (5.8 %)
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 | 63 |
| 1960-1970 | 120 |
| 1970-1980 | 274 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,064 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,945 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,216 |
| 2010-2019 | 710 |
| 2020-2029 | 147 |
Famous people named Vanesa
- Vanesa Amorós: Handball player, Athlete
- Vanesa Martín: Singer, Songwriter
Nicknames
Nessa, Vane, Ness
Fun facts
- The name was invented by writer Jonathan Swift in his 1713 poem Cadenus and Vanessa.
- Vanessa was later adopted as the scientific genus name for a group of colorful butterflies, including the painted lady.