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Vanessa

“From Jonathan Swift's poem Cadenus and Vanessa (1726) — the poet's pet name for his friend Esther Vanhomrigh: 'Van' of her surname plus 'Essa,' from Esther, possibly 'star'” — English literary coinage origin

Girl's name · #377 in the US (2025) · 80s

Vanessa reached #41 in 1988 and has faded to #377 since. In just three years its births jumped from about 180 in 1951 to 2,600 in 1954. The rise coincided with the early years of Love of Life, whose central heroine was Vanessa Dale. Nessa is a short form of Vanessa. A popular twin pairing with Vanessa is Valeria for a girl.

Around the world: about 1 in 810 girls in Sweden (2025) · about 1 in 840 girls in Norway (2025) · about 1 in 920 girls in Austria (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 40 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Vanessas

• Vanessa Hudgens — American actress and singer (born 1988)
• Vanessa Paradis — French singer, model and actress
• Vanessa Redgrave — British actress and activist (born 1937)
• Vanessa Kirby — British actress (born 1987)
• Vanessa Williams — American actress, singer and former Miss America (born 1963)

In stories & tradition

• Vanessa Fisk — The Amazing Spider-Man
• Vanessa Abrams — Gossip Girl
• Vanessa Ives — Penny Dreadful

What Vanessas become

Among 1,827 notable people named Vanessa:

Medical professionals appear 1.67× more often than among typical names — e.g. Vanessa Kerry, American doctor.

Similar names: Nessa · Kendra · Valerie · Janessa · Paige · Alyssa

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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