girl · english
Vanessa
say it vuh-nes-uh
What Vanessa means
- English coined by Jonathan Swift from the name of Esther Vanhomrigh
How popular it is
Its use is falling over the last ten years.
- no. 89 in Austria (2020)
- no. 127 in Denmark (2019)
- no. 134 in Sweden (2020)
- no. 149 in Norway (2020)
- no. 156 in Portugal (2017)
- no. 239 in Ontario & Quebec (2020)
- no. 314 in the US (2024)
- no. 393 in Switzerland (2025)
In the United States it was most popular around 1980.
Other forms
Names with a similar meaning
Ella Maeve Leia Thais Amaia Cassandra Lyanna Una Paris Dana Nala Monica
Vanessa in stories
- Cadenus and Vanessa: Vanessa, Swift's poetic name for Esther Vanhomrigh
- Gossip Girl: Vanessa Abrams, Dan's artist friend