The name Vanessa is a modern invention that was first used in literature in the early 17th century. It is believed to have been derived from the word "Phanessa", which was an archaic term used to refer to a female butterfly or moth in Greek. The name was coined by the English explorer and writer Jonathan Swift in his 1713 poem "Cadenus and Vanessa", where he used it as the name of his close friend and romantic interest Esther Vanhomrigh.

The name's connection to butterflies and its euphonic sound contributed to its growing popularity in English-speaking countries over the following centuries. One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Vanessa was Vanessa Williams, an English poetess and writer who lived from 1765 to 1835. She was a close friend of the renowned poet and artist William Blake.

In the 19th century, Vanessa became a more widely used name, particularly among upper-class families in Britain and the United States. Notable individuals with this name include Vanessa Bell (1879-1961), a British painter and member of the Bloomsbury Group, and Vanessa Redgrave (born 1937), the acclaimed British actress known for her roles in films like "Isadora" and "Julia".

Other famous Vanessas throughout history include Vanessa Nargarian (1839-1915), an Armenian-American teacher and author who founded the first Armenian Protestant school in the United States, and Vanessa Diffenbaugh (born 1978), an American author best known for her debut novel "The Language of Flowers".

More recently, Vanessa Williams (born 1963) made history as the first African-American woman to be crowned Miss America in 1983, though she later resigned due to a scandal. She went on to have a successful career as an actor and singer.