Jessa first name popularity, history and meaning

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

Meaning of Jessa

A feminine name derived from Jessica, with Hebrew origins meaning "wealthy" or "God beholds".

Popularity of Jessa by gender

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

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 98 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Jessa.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 98
2022 0 119
2021 0 179
2020 0 166
2019 0 186
2018 0 240
2017 0 314
2016 0 433
2015 0 572
2014 0 331
2013 0 208
2012 0 255
2011 0 222
2010 0 242
2009 0 196
2008 0 124
2007 0 145
2006 0 138
2005 0 90
2004 0 116
2003 0 92
2002 0 78
2001 0 98
2000 0 91
1999 0 84
1998 0 86
1997 0 80
1996 0 103
1995 0 103
1994 0 113
1993 0 107
1992 0 98
1991 0 101
1990 0 85
1989 0 62
1988 0 52
1987 0 56
1986 0 37
1985 0 45
1984 0 37
1983 0 28
1982 0 24
1981 0 48
1980 0 39
1979 0 33
1978 0 35
1977 0 26
1976 0 14
1975 0 9
1974 0 10

The history of the first name Jessa

The name Jessa has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture. It is a feminine variant of the biblical name Jesse, which means "gift" or "present" in Hebrew. The name Jesse is derived from the Hebrew root word "yesh," meaning "to have" or "to exist."

In the Old Testament of the Bible, Jesse was the father of King David, the famous ruler of ancient Israel. He is mentioned in the Book of Samuel and the Book of Chronicles, where his lineage is traced back to the tribe of Judah. As the father of one of the most significant figures in the Bible, Jesse's name held a special significance in the Jewish tradition.

The earliest recorded use of the name Jessa can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It was occasionally used as a diminutive or pet form of the name Jessica, which itself is a variant of the name Jesse. However, Jessa did not gain widespread popularity until the 20th century.

One of the earliest notable figures with the name Jessa was Jessa of Pamplona, a 10th-century Spanish noblewoman and the wife of Sancho III of Navarre. Another notable Jessa was Jessa ben Judah, a 14th-century Jewish scholar and rabbi from Catalonia, Spain.

In more recent history, several notable individuals have borne the name Jessa. Jessa Zaragoza (born 1971) is a Filipino actress and singer. Jessa Duggar (born 1992) is an American television personality and one of the stars of the reality show "19 Kids and Counting."

Other notable Jessas include Jessa Gamble (born 1983), an American actress known for her role in the TV series "The Glades," and Jessa Whyte (born 1982), a British singer-songwriter.

While the name Jessa is not as common as some other biblical names, it has a rich history and a meaningful connection to the Hebrew tradition. Its popularity has fluctuated over the centuries, but it continues to be used as a feminine variant of the more familiar name Jesse.

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 Jessa was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Jessa first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/jessa-meaning-and-history/.

"Jessa first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/jessa-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Jessa first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/jessa-meaning-and-history/.

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