Jessa Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: JESS-uh /ˈdʒɛsə/
Origin: Hebrew; English
Meaning: Hebrew: 'wealthy'; English: diminutive of Jessica
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Jessa is derived from the Hebrew name Yishai, which means "gift" or "God's gift." This name evolved through various linguistic transformations, passing into Greek as Iessai and then into Latin as Jesse. The name Jesse appears in the Old Testament of the Bible, specifically in the Book of Ruth and the First Book of Samuel, where he is identified as the father of King David.
The significance of Jesse in biblical history has contributed to the name's enduring presence in various cultures. In the Middle Ages, the name Jesse was adopted in various forms across Europe, particularly in Christian contexts, due to its association with the lineage of Christ, as outlined in the Gospel of Matthew.
The name was also popularized by the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible, which helped spread its use in Christian communities. Over the centuries, Jesse has appeared in various forms and diminutives, including Jess, which has been used as a standalone name or nickname.
The name Jessa, as a feminine variant, likely emerged in the 20th century, influenced by the trend of creating softer, more modern-sounding names from traditional roots. While Jessa itself does not have a long historical record, its connection to the biblical Jesse imbues it with a sense of heritage and significance.
The name resonates with themes of divine blessing and familial legacy, reflecting the cultural importance of names that signify gifts or blessings in many traditions. This historical and cultural background supports the name's appeal across different eras.
Famous people named Jessa
In this section, you will find notable people named Jessa. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Jessa who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Jessa who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Jessa Duggar is a television personality best known for 19 Kids and Counting and Counting On.
Jessa Hinton is a model and actress best known for her work in various magazines and television appearances.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Jessa, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Jessa. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Jessa was first seen in the United States in 1918.
Jessa has ranked as high as #1048 nationally, which occurred in 2015, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Ohio, Florida, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Jessa has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Jessa is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Jessa was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Jessa.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 83 | 0 | 83 |
| 2024 | 96 | 0 | 96 |
| 2023 | 99 | 0 | 99 |
| 2022 | 122 | 0 | 122 |
| 2021 | 179 | 0 | 179 |
| 2020 | 167 | 0 | 167 |
| 2019 | 187 | 0 | 187 |
| 2018 | 242 | 0 | 242 |
| 2017 | 314 | 0 | 314 |
| 2016 | 433 | 0 | 433 |
| 2015 | 572 | 0 | 572 |
| 2014 | 332 | 0 | 332 |
| 2013 | 208 | 0 | 208 |
| 2012 | 255 | 0 | 255 |
| 2011 | 222 | 0 | 222 |
| 2010 | 242 | 0 | 242 |
| 2009 | 196 | 0 | 196 |
| 2008 | 124 | 0 | 124 |
| 2007 | 145 | 0 | 145 |
| 2006 | 138 | 0 | 138 |
| 2005 | 90 | 0 | 90 |
| 2004 | 116 | 0 | 116 |
| 2003 | 92 | 0 | 92 |
| 2002 | 78 | 0 | 78 |
| 2001 | 98 | 0 | 98 |
| 2000 | 91 | 0 | 91 |
| 1999 | 84 | 0 | 84 |
| 1998 | 86 | 0 | 86 |
| 1997 | 80 | 0 | 80 |
| 1996 | 103 | 0 | 103 |
| 1995 | 103 | 0 | 103 |
| 1994 | 113 | 0 | 113 |
| 1993 | 107 | 0 | 107 |
| 1992 | 98 | 0 | 98 |
| 1991 | 101 | 0 | 101 |
| 1990 | 85 | 0 | 85 |
| 1989 | 62 | 0 | 62 |
| 1988 | 52 | 0 | 52 |
| 1987 | 56 | 0 | 56 |
| 1986 | 37 | 0 | 37 |
| 1985 | 45 | 0 | 45 |
| 1984 | 37 | 0 | 37 |
| 1983 | 28 | 0 | 28 |
| 1982 | 24 | 0 | 24 |
| 1981 | 48 | 0 | 48 |
| 1980 | 39 | 0 | 39 |
| 1979 | 33 | 0 | 33 |
| 1978 | 35 | 0 | 35 |
| 1977 | 26 | 0 | 26 |
| 1976 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1975 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1974 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1973 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1972 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1971 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1929 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1918 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Top States for Jessa (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| MI | 6 | |
| FL | 6 | |
| TX | 5 | |
| CA | 5 | |
| GA | 5 |