Vanessa
How to say it: vuh-NES-uh · /vəˈnɛsə/
Invented by Jonathan Swift for a poem; possibly from 'Esther Vanhomrigh', his close friend.
Vanessa was the 397th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 813 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1980s, its births are down about 53% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #516 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 | #397 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 813 |
| Share of births | 1 in 4,077 |
| Peak decade | 1980s |
| Change over 10 years | −53% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #516 |
| In France, 2025 | #894 among girls’ names, 30 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Popular in the 1980s, Vanessa has grown rarer since. Far below its peak, continued slipping is expected.
What goes with it
Breathy and lilting, Vanessa feels lush and romantic. Sabrina echoes its flair, while Nessa offers a sweet short form.
Middle names that flow with Vanessa →
Parents who love Vanessa also love
Nicknames
- Van
- Nessa
- Ness
Honouring a Vanessa in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Vanessa is about 1 in 170.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish.
In France: #894 for girls in 2025.
Ireland: #441.
Famous people named Vanessa
- Vanessa Hudgens (born 1988)American actress and singer
- Vanessa Paradis (born 1972)French singer, model and actress
- Vanessa Redgrave (born 1937)British actress and activist
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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