Jessi Unisex
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.
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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Jessi was first seen in the United States in 1959.
Jessi has ranked as high as #851 nationally, which occurred in 1981, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio.
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.
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. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 8 | |
| TX | 6 | |
| NC | 5 |
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 | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 48 |
| 2023 | 50 |
| 2022 | 47 |
| 2021 | 52 |
| 2020 | 56 |
| 2019 | 60 |
| 2018 | 64 |
| 2017 | 78 |
| 2016 | 69 |
| 2015 | 61 |
| 2014 | 60 |
| 2013 | 78 |
| 2012 | 58 |
| 2011 | 77 |
| 2010 | 92 |
| 2009 | 78 |
| 2008 | 126 |
| 2007 | 100 |
| 2006 | 112 |
| 2005 | 104 |
| 2004 | 117 |
| 2003 | 113 |
| 2002 | 128 |
| 2001 | 107 |
| 2000 | 111 |
| 1999 | 126 |
| 1998 | 131 |
| 1997 | 174 |
| 1996 | 191 |
| 1995 | 219 |
| 1994 | 244 |
| 1993 | 214 |
| 1992 | 199 |
| 1991 | 221 |
| 1990 | 209 |
| 1989 | 210 |
| 1988 | 198 |
| 1987 | 203 |
| 1986 | 224 |
| 1985 | 183 |
| 1984 | 172 |
| 1983 | 150 |
| 1982 | 196 |
| 1981 | 273 |
| 1980 | 151 |
| 1979 | 134 |
| 1978 | 119 |
| 1977 | 95 |
| 1976 | 69 |
| 1975 | 33 |
| 1974 | 22 |
| 1973 | 17 |
| 1972 | 14 |
| 1971 | 14 |
| 1970 | 10 |
| 1969 | 6 |
| 1968 | 9 |
| 1967 | 6 |
| 1965 | 5 |
| 1964 | 5 |
| 1959 | 5 |