Vanessa Boy
Origin(s)
Pronunciationvah-NESS-ah / /vəˈnɛsə/Latin; Greek
Meaning
Latin: butterfly; Greek: derived from Phanessa, a goddess of butterflies
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Vanessa was created by the author Jonathan Swift in the early 18th century for his poem 'Cadenus and Vanessa'. It gained popularity in the English-speaking world and has been associated with beauty and grace due to its meaning. The name has been used in various literary works and has maintained a presence in popular culture.
Trend Summary
Vanessa has experienced fluctuating popularity in the United States, peaking in the 1980s and 1990s.
Similar Names
Variants
- Vannessa
International Variants
- Vanessa (Spanish)
- Vanessa (Italian)
- Vanessa (Portuguese)
Famous people named Vanessa
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Fictional characters named Vanessa
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Sibling Suggestions
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Vanessa was first seen in the United States in 1954. Vanessa has ranked as high as #1093 nationally, which occurred in 1988, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, District of Columbia, and Arizona. In the past 5 years the name Vanessa has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
Top States for Vanessa (1998)
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 7 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 1954 | 9 |
| 1955 | 7 |
| 1957 | 8 |
| 1958 | 10 |
| 1959 | 14 |
| 1960 | 8 |
| 1961 | 9 |
| 1962 | 7 |
| 1964 | 8 |
| 1965 | 6 |
| 1966 | 8 |
| 1967 | 6 |
| 1968 | 5 |
| 1969 | 6 |
| 1970 | 5 |
| 1971 | 10 |
| 1972 | 9 |
| 1973 | 10 |
| 1974 | 9 |
| 1975 | 14 |
| 1976 | 10 |
| 1977 | 15 |
| 1978 | 12 |
| 1979 | 17 |
| 1980 | 21 |
| 1981 | 24 |
| 1982 | 53 |
| 1983 | 58 |
| 1984 | 43 |
| 1985 | 42 |
| 1986 | 44 |
| 1987 | 46 |
| 1988 | 72 |
| 1989 | 53 |
| 1990 | 32 |
| 1991 | 28 |
| 1992 | 30 |
| 1993 | 30 |
| 1994 | 18 |
| 1995 | 16 |
| 1996 | 17 |
| 1997 | 20 |
| 1998 | 13 |
| 1999 | 10 |
| 2000 | 12 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 5 |