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The short answer
Vanessa is a feminine name used in English and French. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Invented by author Jonathan Swift for his 1726 poem Cadenus and Vanessa. He arrived at it by rearranging the initial syllables of the first name and surname of Esther Vanhomrigh, his close friend." It ranked #377 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, invented by author Jonathan Swift for his 1726 poem Cadenus and Vanessa. He arrived at it by rearranging the initial syllables of the first name and surname of Esther Vanhomrigh, his close friend. The entry lists its usage as English, French, Italian, Portuguese and others.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Vanessa ranked #377 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #377 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Vanessa in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Vanessa mean?
Behind the Name does not give Vanessa a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: invented by author Jonathan Swift for his 1726 poem Cadenus and Vanessa.
Is Vanessa a popular name?
Vanessa ranked #377 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Vanessa a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Vanessa appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Vanessa — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
