Find out how popular the first name Janessa has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Janessa by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Janessa is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 165 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Janessa.

The history of the first name Janessa

The name Janessa is a modern feminine variation of the name Janessa, which has its origins in the Hebrew language. The name traces its roots back to the biblical name Yochanan, which means "Yahweh is gracious" or "God is merciful."

The earliest known recorded use of the name Janessa dates back to the late 20th century. It is believed to have been created as a combination of the names Jane and Vanessa, both of which were popular names during that time period.

While the name Janessa itself does not appear in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its Hebrew roots connect it to the biblical figure John the Baptist, whose name was Yochanan in Hebrew.

One of the earliest known people to bear the name Janessa was Janessa Brazil, an American actress born in 1978. She is best known for her role in the television series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

Another notable Janessa is Janessa Crymes, an American basketball player who played in the WNBA for teams like the Seattle Storm and the San Antonio Stars in the early 2000s.

In the field of music, Janessa Ray is a Canadian singer-songwriter who gained popularity in the late 2000s with her album "Fairytale and Disaster." She was born in 1985.

Janessa Gourley is an Australian businesswoman and entrepreneur who co-founded the fashion and lifestyle brand Kikki.K in 2001. She was born in 1978.

Janessa Slaughter, born in 1983, is an American model and actress who has appeared in various television shows and films, including "Entourage" and "The Hangover Part III."

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Janessa throughout history, showcasing its modern yet meaningful origins.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Janessa was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Janessa, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!