Annessa
A variant of Anessa, derived from the Greek name Anna meaning "grace".
Name Census estimates that about 640 living Americans carry the first name Annessa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Annessa today is around 33 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Annessa births was 1994 (24 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Annessa. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
640
~ 1 in 535,554 Americans
Peak year
1994
24 babies that year
Average age
33
years old
2023 SSA rank
#10,381
Tracked since 1967
Popularity
Annessa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Annessa from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 171 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Annessa by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Annessa during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Annessas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Annessa
The name Annessa is believed to have originated from the Latin name "Anna," which itself is derived from the Hebrew name "Hannah," meaning "grace" or "favor." The name Annessa can be traced back to the Middle Ages in Europe, particularly in regions influenced by Latin and Romance languages.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Annessa can be found in medieval Italian records from the 12th century. It was a popular name among noble families in regions such as Tuscany and Lombardy during this period. The name likely evolved from the Italian version of Anna, "Annetta," with the addition of the suffix "-essa" to create a more distinctive and feminine form.
In the 13th century, there are records of a Saint Annessa, a Benedictine nun who lived in a convent in Foligno, Italy. She was known for her piety and charitable works, and her name has been associated with virtue and kindness ever since.
One of the earliest notable figures bearing the name Annessa was Annessa di Mendoza (1372-1434), a Spanish noblewoman and patron of the arts. She was influential in the cultural circles of the Kingdom of Aragon and is credited with commissioning several notable works of art and literature during the Renaissance period.
Another historical figure with the name Annessa was Annessa Farnese (1545-1612), an Italian noblewoman and member of the powerful Farnese family. She was known for her intelligence and political acumen, and played a significant role in the affairs of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza during the late 16th century.
In the 17th century, Annessa van Hoey (1605-1678) was a Dutch Golden Age painter known for her still-life paintings and portraits. Her works are celebrated for their attention to detail and realistic depictions of everyday objects.
Another notable figure was Annessa Golitsyna (1711-1768), a Russian noblewoman and patron of the arts. She was influential in the cultural and intellectual circles of St. Petersburg during the reign of Empress Elizabeth and is credited with promoting the appreciation of music and theater in Russia.
While the name Annessa has historical roots in Europe, particularly in Italy and other regions influenced by Latin and Romance languages, it has also been used in other parts of the world, though less commonly. The name's association with grace, favor, and virtue has made it a popular choice for parents throughout history.
People
Annessa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Annessa as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Annessa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Annessa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 640 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Annessa going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 535,554 US residents.
Is Annessa a common name?
We classify Annessa as "Very Rare". It ranks above 86.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 672 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Annessa most popular?
The single biggest year for Annessa was 1994, when 24 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Annessa is about 33 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Annessa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Annessa in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.