Vannessa
Vannessa is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Created literary name; associated with the genus of butterflies.
Origin and history
Vannessa is a variant spelling of Vanessa, a name created by the author Jonathan Swift in the 18th century for his close friend Esther Vanhomrigh. The name combines the prefix 'Van-' from her surname with 'Essa', a diminutive form of Esther. It is a rare alternative spelling in the United States compared to the standard Vanessa.
Popularity in the United States
3,231 babies in the United States have been named Vannessa since 1880. It ranks #3128 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2080.
States where it is most popular
- CA (55.9 %)
- TX (21 %)
- FL (7.6 %)
- NY (4.9 %)
- IL (2.2 %)
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 | 375 |
| 1960-1970 | 366 |
| 1970-1980 | 353 |
| 1980-1990 | 761 |
| 1990-2000 | 785 |
| 2000-2010 | 428 |
| 2010-2019 | 142 |
| 2020-2029 | 21 |
Nicknames
Nessa, Ness, Vee, Vanna
Fun facts
- The original name Vanessa was invented by Jonathan Swift for his 1713 poem 'Cadenus and Vanessa'.
- Vanessa was later adopted in 1807 as a scientific genus name for colorful brush-footed butterflies.