Vanessa
Complete Name Analysis & Etymology Guide
261,777 Total Births
145 Years of Data
1985 Peak Popularity Year
7,606 Peak Births

Vanessa Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis

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Summary

Vanessa is a name of Greek origin that means 'butterfly'. It was created in the early 18th century by Jonathan Swift, and it has evolved from the name of his friend Esther Vanhomrigh. The name has gained popularity due to its literary roots and maintains a modern image associated with elegance and creativity. There is no biblical relevance associated with the name.

Etymology & Cultural Background of "Vanessa"

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Pronunciation

/vəˈnɛsə/

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Origin

Greek

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Etymology

The name Vanessa was created by the author Jonathan Swift in the early 18th century. He derived it from the name of his friend Esther Vanhomrigh, using the first syllable 'Van' from her last name and adding the Greek suffix '-essa', which was a diminutive form.

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Meaning

butterfly

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Language Evolution

Esther Vanhomrigh, Vanessa (18th century)

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Historical Usage

Vanessa gained popularity in the 18th century, particularly after the publication of Swift's poem 'Cadenus and Vanessa', where the name was first used.

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Variants & Derivatives

Vannessa, Vani, Nessa, Vanny

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Modern Popularity & Image

Today, Vanessa is often viewed as a modern and elegant name, frequently associated with beauty and creativity. It has maintained consistent popularity across various cultures.

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Famous People

Vanessa Redgrave, Vanessa Williams, Vanessa Kirby

📊 Vanessa Name Trend Analysis

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Boy Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Stable
25-Year Trend: Relatively Stable
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Girl Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Declining
25-Year Trend: Gradually Declining

Explore More Vanessa Name Visualizations

✨ Vanessa Name Meaning & Significance

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Popularity Trend

Highly Popular name with 7,606 peak births in 1985

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Geographic Spread

Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in California

Historical Span

Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends

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Generational Impact

Influenced 12 different American generations with varying popularity

🔊 Same Pronunciation Names for "Vanessa" - Complete Guide (7 Names)

Discover the ultimate list of homophone names and same pronunciation names that sound identical to "Vanessa". These names share the same pronunciation but may have different spellings, offering alternative options for parents seeking similar-sounding names. Whether you're looking for American or British pronunciation variations, this comprehensive guide includes 7 carefully curated names that maintain the same phonetic sound.

Why explore same pronunciation names? Many parents search for homophone names to find alternative spellings that might be more unique or culturally significant. This ultimate list covers both American and British pronunciation patterns, ensuring you find the perfect variation of "Vanessa" that fits your preferences.

Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Vanessa"

Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.

Yearly Ranking History of "Vanessa"

"Vanessa" Popularity Across American Generations

Generation Gender Rank Total Names
Baby Boomers (1946-1964) Boy 3824th of 7552 80
Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) Boy 3206th of 10718 163
Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) Boy 1881st of 16616 606
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) Boy 8218th of 24088 123
Generation Alpha (2013-2024) Boy 18910th of 23106 12
G.I. Generation (1901-1927) Girl 4387th of 9107 75
Silent Generation (1928-1945) Girl 2553rd of 9204 218
Baby Boomers (1946-1964) Girl 199th of 12526 31,190
Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) Girl 129th of 19264 41,678
Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) Girl 53rd of 27321 102,307
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) Girl 70th of 35406 68,202
Generation Alpha (2013-2024) Girl 215th of 30306 17,117

Regional Popularity of "Vanessa" by Generation for Male Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
- - - -
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
- - - -
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
- - - -
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
- - - 55.96%
2263rd/4044
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
- 43.31%
1938th/4475
30.32%
1575th/5194
16.62%
1050th/6317
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
- - - 51.03%
3808th/7463
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
- - - -

Regional Popularity of "Vanessa" by Generation for Female Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
- - - -
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
- - - 100.00%
1547th/1547
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
9.61%
214th/2227
9.01%
219th/2430
5.01%
143rd/2853
11.82%
328th/2775
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
5.79%
170th/2937
3.53%
123rd/3483
3.27%
115th/3518
2.50%
101st/4044
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
2.55%
94th/3685
1.36%
61st/4475
1.21%
63rd/5194
0.32%
20th/6317
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
2.42%
111th/4582
1.78%
92nd/5164
1.24%
91st/7313
0.39%
29th/7463
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
6.53%
260th/3984
5.22%
234th/4487
3.52%
240th/6822
2.61%
164th/6276

State-by-State Popularity of "Vanessa"

This map shows the relative popularity of "Vanessa" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.

Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Vanessa" in the United States

The name Vanessa is most popular in California, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been gradually declining. From 2020-2022, Vanessa has been too falling for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, falling for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, falling for female in South, stalled for male in West, too rising for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been falling for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, falling for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, falling for female in South, stalled for male in West, too rising for female in West. Across generations, 'Vanessa' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3824th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3206th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1881st out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 8218th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 18910th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4387th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2553rd out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 199th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 129th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 53rd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 70th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 215th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Vanessa' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.

Infographic: Vanessa name meaning, origin, and popularity trends in the United States (US baby name analysis chart)
[600x500px image] Etymology and historical popularity of Vanessa,
Infographic: Vanessa same pronunciation names, similar names, and homophone names
[600x500px image] Vanessa same pronunciation names, similar names, and homophone names