Vanessa

Vanessa

Primarily a girl's name · 100% girls

Origin: Italian

Meaning

Vanessa is a feminine given name. It was created by the Anglo-Irish writer Jonathan Swift for Esther Vanhomrigh, whom Swift had met in 1708 and whom he tutored. The name was created by taking "Van" from Vanhomrigh's last name and adding "Essa", a pet form of Esther.

From Wikipedia

Vanessa first appears in the data in 1963 and has been recorded in 42 different years as a girl's name. Its single biggest year was 1971 with 477 babies (rank #27 that year). It was not in the 2025 data. The name has been declining over the last five years.

Numerology of Vanessa

In Pythagorean numerology, every letter has a value from 1 to 9. Adding the letters of Vanessa yields these three numbers — a playful read on the name's character.

9Destiny numberThe humanitarianIdealistic, compassionate, thinks in big-picture terms.Sum of every letter. The overall character a name carries.
7Soul urgeThe seekerIntrospective, analytical, drawn to the unknown.Sum of the vowels — what's said to drive the heart.
11PersonalityThe visionary (master)Intuitive and inspirational — a heightened 2.Sum of the consonants — the outer impression.

8,773

Total babies (all years)

Years in the data

477

Peak in a single year

Year-by-Year Detail

Rank is among all girls' names registered that year.

Year	Babies	Rank
1963	77	#102
1964	93	#92
1965	125	#83
1967	180	#69
1968	254	#53
1969	346	#38
1970	384	#34
1971	477	#27
1972	470	#29
1973	402	#35
1974	422	#30
1975	417	#25
1976	353	#33
1977	320	#34
1978	327	#34
1979	320	#34
1980	291	#39
1981	231	#52
1982	250	#45
1983	244	#49
1984	226	#49
1985	239	#48
1986	237	#49
1987	236	#47
1988	249	#46
1989	180	#66
1990	201	#55
1991	171	#68
1992	138	#86
1993	115	#93
1994	116	#96
1995	120	#91
1996	106	#86
1997	98	#87
1998	86	#100
1999	91	#94
2000	83	#96
2001	81	#93
2014	6	#288
2015	5	#331
2016	2	#824
2017	4	#391

Year

Babies

Rank

1963

#102

1964

#92

1965

125

#83

1967

180

#69

1968

254

#53

1969

346

#38

1970

384

#34

1971

477

#27

1972

470

#29

1973

402

#35

1974

422

#30

1975

417

#25

1976

353

#33

1977

320

#34

1978

327

#34

1979

320

#34

1980

291

#39

1981

231

#52

1982

250

#45

1983

244

#49

1984

226

#49

1985

239

#48

1986

237

#49

1987

236

#47

1988

249

#46

1989

180

#66

1990

201

#55

1991

171

#68

1992

138

#86

1993

115

#93

1994

116

#96

1995

120

#91

1996

106

#86

1997

#87

1998

#100

1999

#94

2000

#96

2001

#93

2014

#288

2015

#331

2016

#824

2017

#391

Meaning

Numerology of Vanessa

Popularity Over Time — Girls

Famous people named Vanessa

More popular girls' names

Other girls' names starting with V

Year-by-Year Detail