Idessa
A feminine given name of uncertain origin and meaning, possibly related to Greek "Idis".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Idessa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Idessa today is around 81 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Idessa births was 1927 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Idessa. 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.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Idessa is about 81 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Idessas were born before 1955.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Idessa. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
1927
7 babies that year
Average age
81
years old
1954 SSA rank
#6,077
Tracked since 1920
Popularity
Idessa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Idessa from the 1920s through to the 1950s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 13 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1920s peak, Idessa remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Idessa 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 Idessa during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Idessa
The name Idessa has its origins in Greek culture and is believed to have been derived from the ancient Greek word "idein," meaning "to see" or "to know." This linguistic root suggests that the name may have been associated with wisdom, insight, or perception.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Idessa dates back to the 5th century BC, when it was mentioned in ancient Greek texts as the name of a Greek woman from the region of Attica. The name's usage during this era highlights its historical presence within the Hellenic world.
In the realms of mythology and literature, the name Idessa has been associated with various figures. One notable example is the character of Idessa, a nymph mentioned in the works of the ancient Greek poet Nonnus of Panopolis, who lived in the 5th century AD.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Idessa. One such figure was Idessa Goddard (1848-1924), an American educator and writer from Connecticut. She was a pioneer in the field of physical education and advocated for the inclusion of gymnastics and exercise programs in schools.
Another prominent figure with the name Idessa was Idessa Hines (1860-1942), an African American educator and activist from Mississippi. She dedicated her life to improving educational opportunities for Black students and was a founding member of the Mississippi Teachers Association.
In the realm of literature, Idessa Blaise (1836-1919) was a French writer and poet known for her contributions to the Romantic movement. Her works often explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition.
Idessa Muir (1878-1956), born in Scotland, was a notable botanist and explorer who made significant contributions to the study of plant life in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. She was recognized for her extensive fieldwork and publications on the flora of the region.
Another individual of note was Idessa Spitzer (1892-1971), an American philanthropist and art collector from New York. She was instrumental in establishing the Spitzer Galleries, which housed her extensive collection of European art and artifacts.
These examples showcase the diverse backgrounds and achievements of individuals who have carried the name Idessa throughout history, spanning various fields such as education, activism, literature, science, and the arts.
People
Idessa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Idessa as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with I
Other first names starting with I with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Idessa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Idessa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Idessa 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 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Idessa a common name?
We classify Idessa as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 30 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Idessa most popular?
The single biggest year for Idessa was 1927, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Idessa is about 81 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Idessa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Idessa 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.