Nessa
How to say it: NESS-uh · /ˈnɛsə/
Short form of Vanessa/Agnes (Greek 'pure'); also Irish myth name - long used independently for girls.
Nessa was the 2,002nd most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 63 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up about 26% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #1,891 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #2,002 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 63 |
| Share of births | 1 in 52,624 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | +26% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,891 |
| In France, 2025 | #1,126 among girls’ names, 20 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Nessa is climbing: the 2020s are already its best decade.
What goes with it
Nicknames
- Ness
- Essie
Honouring a Nessa in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Nessa is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, Irish, Welsh.
In France: #1,126 for girls in 2025.
Ireland: #243.
Famous people named Nessa
- Nessa Childers (born 1956)Irish politician
- Nessa CareyBritish molecular biologist
- Nessa Cohen (1855–1915)American sculptor
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Nessa Jenkins, played by Ruth Jones, is a main character of the British sitcom Gavin & Stacey
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