Jessamyn
A feminine name of uncertain origin meaning "jasmine flower" or "fragrant plant".
Name Census estimates that about 693 living Americans carry the first name Jessamyn. It is a predominantly female name (99.3% of registrations). The average person named Jessamyn today is around 37 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jessamyn births was 1981 (37 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jessamyn. 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
693
~ 1 in 494,595 Americans
Peak year
1981
37 babies that year
Average age
37
years old
1981 SSA rank
#6,745
Tracked since 1968
Gender
Gender distribution for Jessamyn
Out of the 732 babies given the name Jessamyn since 1880, 99.3% were registered as female. The name sits firmly on the female side of the spectrum, with only a handful of male registrations across the entire dataset.
Jessamyn as a male name
- Ranked #6,745 in 1981
- 5 male births in 1981
- Peak: 1981 (5 births)
Jessamyn as a female name
- Ranked #13,053 in 2018
- 7 female births in 2018
- Peak: 1981 (32 births)
Popularity
Jessamyn: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Jessamyn from the 1960s through to the 2010s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 241 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jessamyn 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 Jessamyn during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Jessamyns live
Origin
Meaning and history of Jessamyn
The name Jessamyn has its origins rooted in the Hebrew language and culture. It is a feminine variant of the name Jesse, which is derived from the Hebrew name "Yishai" meaning "gift" or "present." The name Jesse is found in the Old Testament of the Bible as the father of King David.
Jessamyn first emerged as a name in the 17th century, likely in England or Scotland. It is believed to have been created by combining the names Jesse and Jasmine, with the latter being a Persian name referring to the jasmine flower. This combination resulted in a unique and melodic name that gained popularity during that time period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jessamyn can be found in the writings of the English poet Robert Herrick, who lived from 1591 to 1674. In his collection of poems titled "Hesperides," Herrick included a poem titled "To Jessamyn," which celebrates the beauty and virtues of a woman bearing that name.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Jessamyn. One of the earliest was Jessamyn West (1902-1984), an American novelist and short story writer known for her works set in the American West. Her best-known novel, "The Friendly Persuasion," was adapted into a critically acclaimed film in 1956.
Another prominent figure with the name Jessamyn was Jessamyn Rendell (1916-1999), an American actress and dancer who appeared in several Broadway productions and films during the mid-20th century. She is perhaps best remembered for her role in the 1951 film "An American in Paris," where she showcased her exceptional dancing skills.
In the literary world, Jessamyn Hatcher (1805-1876) was an American poet and philanthropist known for her contributions to education and social causes. Her collection of poems, titled "Verses for the People," was widely acclaimed for its emotional depth and social commentary.
More recently, Jessamyn Neuhaus (born 1980) is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has gained popularity in the folk and indie rock genres. Her albums, such as "Jessamyn Neuhaus" (2004) and "Crowd Catches Crown" (2007), have received critical acclaim for their introspective lyrics and intricate melodies.
Additionally, Jessamyn Duke (born 1986) is an American mixed martial artist who has competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and other prominent organizations. She is known for her strength and determination in the octagon, showcasing the resilience often associated with her name.
People
Jessamyn + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jessamyn as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with J
Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Jessamyn: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jessamyn?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 693 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jessamyn 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 494,595 US residents.
Is Jessamyn a common name?
We classify Jessamyn as "Very Rare". It ranks above 87.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 732 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jessamyn most popular?
The single biggest year for Jessamyn was 1981, when 37 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jessamyn is about 37 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Jessamyn a female name?
Yes, 99.3% of people registered as Jessamyn 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.