Jessi Unisex

Popularity: #896 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: JESS-ee //ˈdʒɛsi//

Origin: Hebrew; English

Meaning: Hebrew: 'God beholds'; English: diminutive of Jessica

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Jessi is derived from the Hebrew name Yishai, meaning "gift" or "God's gift." This name appears in the Old Testament, where Jesse is the father of King David, a significant figure in biblical history. The name transitioned into Latin as Iesse and later into Old French as Jessé, before evolving into the modern English form, Jessi, which is often used as a diminutive or variant of Jessica, a name popularized by William Shakespeare in his play "The Merchant of Venice" in the late 16th century.

The name gained further prominence through various historical milestones, particularly during the Renaissance when Shakespeare's works were widely read and performed. The character Jessica, portrayed as the daughter of Shylock, contributed to the name's association with themes of love and loyalty.

Additionally, the name Jessi has been used in various cultural contexts, including literature and music, which have helped to maintain its relevance over the centuries. Culturally, Jessi and its variants have been embraced in various traditions, often symbolizing joy and the idea of being a cherished gift.

The name's enduring appeal can be attributed to its positive connotations and its connection to significant historical and literary figures. The diminutive form Jess has also been commonly used, further embedding the name into various cultural narratives.

Overall, Jessi reflects a rich linguistic heritage and a deep-rooted historical significance that continues to resonate across different cultures.

Famous people named Jessi

In this section, you will find notable people named Jessi. 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 Jessi who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Jessi 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.

Jessi Colter is a singer-songwriter best known for I'm Not Lisa, It's Morning, and Jessi.

Fictional characters named Jessi

The following list of fictional characters named Jessi is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Jessi is a fictional character from the book series Animorphs. She is a member of the Animorphs who can transform into any animal she touches, playing a crucial role in their battle against the Yeerks.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Jessi, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

JadeJennaJordanJasmineJulesJoyJocelyn

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Jessi. 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.

JessicaJasmineJennaJodieJosieJanetJanelle

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Jessi was first seen in the United States in 1959.

Jessi has ranked as high as #1033 nationally, which occurred in 1981, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Jessi has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Jessi 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 Jessi 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 Jessi.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 59 7 52
2024 49 0 49
2023 55 5 50
2022 54 7 47
2021 58 6 52
2020 57 0 57
2019 67 6 61
2018 64 0 64
2017 84 6 78
2016 78 9 69
2015 70 9 61
2014 66 6 60
2013 88 10 78
2012 78 20 58
2011 97 20 77
2010 109 17 92
2009 111 33 78
2008 158 32 126
2007 117 17 100
2006 151 39 112
2005 139 35 104
2004 151 34 117
2003 142 29 113
2002 162 34 128
2001 133 26 107
2000 141 30 111
1999 157 31 126
1998 183 52 131
1997 214 40 174
1996 243 52 191
1995 263 44 219
1994 311 67 244
1993 276 62 214
1992 238 39 199
1991 262 41 221
1990 253 43 210
1989 255 45 210
1988 237 39 198
1987 255 52 203
1986 254 30 224
1985 206 23 183
1984 190 18 172
1983 178 28 150
1982 226 30 196
1981 317 44 273
1980 179 28 151
1979 154 20 134
1978 133 14 119
1977 108 13 95
1976 80 11 69
1975 40 7 33
1974 28 6 22
1973 17 0 17
1972 14 0 14
1971 14 0 14
1970 15 5 10
1969 6 0 6
1968 9 0 9
1967 6 0 6
1965 5 0 5
1964 5 0 5
1959 5 0 5

Top States for Jessi (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
CA 8
42%
TX 6
32%
NC 5
26%