Quinessa
A feminine name of unclear origin, possibly derived from the Latin word "quintus" meaning "fifth."
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Quinessa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Quinessa today is around 43 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Quinessa births was 1979 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Quinessa. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Quinessa. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1979
5 babies that year
Average age
43
years old
1979 SSA rank
#11,427
Tracked since 1979
Popularity
Quinessa: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Quinessa 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 Quinessa during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Quinessa
The name Quinessa is a unique and intriguing name with roots that can be traced back to ancient civilizations. Its origins are found in the Etruscan language, an extinct Italic language that was spoken in ancient Italy. The name is derived from the Etruscan word "Quintes," which means "fifth" or "fifth-born."
In the Etruscan culture, names often held numerical significance, reflecting the order of birth or the importance of certain numbers in their belief systems. Consequently, Quinessa may have been a name given to a fifth-born child or may have held special meaning related to the number five.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Quinessa can be found in ancient Etruscan inscriptions and artifacts dating back to the 6th century BCE. These inscriptions provide valuable insights into the naming practices and cultural traditions of the Etruscan people.
While the name Quinessa is not widely documented in historical texts or religious scriptures, there are a few notable individuals who have carried this name throughout history. One of the earliest known individuals with the name Quinessa was an Etruscan noble woman who lived in the 4th century BCE. Her name was recorded on a funerary inscription, suggesting that she held a significant position in Etruscan society.
Another individual of note was Quinessa of Volterra, a renowned Etruscan artist who lived in the 3rd century BCE. She was celebrated for her intricate pottery designs and sculptures, many of which are now housed in museums around the world.
In the medieval period, there are records of a Quinessa of Siena, a respected scholar and philosopher who lived in the 12th century. Her writings on ethics and metaphysics were widely influential during her time.
Moving forward to the Renaissance era, Quinessa Borghese was an Italian noblewoman and patron of the arts who lived in the 16th century. She was known for her support of artists and her vast art collection, which included works by some of the most renowned painters of the period.
More recently, in the 19th century, Quinessa Everett was an American abolitionist and women's rights activist. She played a significant role in the anti-slavery movement and advocated for equal rights and education for women.
While the name Quinessa is not widely used in modern times, its unique origins and historical significance make it a fascinating name with a rich cultural heritage.
People
Quinessa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Quinessa as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Q
Other first names starting with Q with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Quinessa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Quinessa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Quinessa 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Quinessa a common name?
We classify Quinessa as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Quinessa most popular?
The single biggest year for Quinessa was 1979, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Quinessa is about 43 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Quinessa in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Quinessa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Quinessa 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.
Is Quinessa still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Quinessa in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Quinessa can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Quinessa?
Find out how many people share the name Quinessa on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.