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Jessica

♀ Girl

Pronounced JES-ih-kuh /ˈdʒɛs.ɪ.kə/High

Meaning: Likely coined or popularized by Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice (c. 1596) from Hebrew Yiskah meaning God beholds or foresight; the name may derive from biblical Iscah, daughter of HaranMedium

In 30 seconds: A name likely introduced by Shakespeare from a Hebrew root meaning God beholds, Jessica dominated American baby-name charts in the 1980s–90s and remains a warmly recognizable classic.
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Origin HighHebrew, English
MeaningLikely coined or popularized by Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice (c. 1596) from Hebrew Yiskah meaning God beholds or foresight; the name may derive from biblical Iscah, daughter of Haran
U.S. rank (2025)#665 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births424 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1987
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,050,730

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 198718802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Jessica appears to have been introduced or popularized by Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice (c. 1596), where Jessica is the daughter of Shylock. The name is believed to derive from Iscah (Hebrew Yiskah), a minor biblical figure in Genesis meaning God beholds or foresight. Whether Shakespeare coined the name or found it in his source material is debated.

After a long dormancy following Shakespeare's play, Jessica began rising in the mid-20th century and became one of the defining names of the American 1980s and 1990s. It was the number-one girls' name in the United States for roughly twelve consecutive years. Actress Jessica Alba, Jessica Lange, and others have kept the name's cultural presence strong. Today Jessica is a mid-range classic — familiar but less frequently chosen for newborns.

Did you know? Jessica was the number-one girls' name in the United States for an astonishing twelve years running, from 1981 to 1992 — making it one of the most dominant single names in American naming history.
Overall data confidence 85%
Behind the Name — Jessica — etymology and literary historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

JessikaJesica

Nicknames

JessJessieJessi

Famous Bearers

  • ★Jessica Alba (1981–present)
    American actress and entrepreneur.
  • ★Jessica Lange (1949–present)
    American actress, two-time Academy Award winner.

If you like Jessica…

Jennifer— shares the same 1980s American peak and the same warm, approachable classic status
Melissa— fellow 1980s American top-name with the same cheerful, familiar quality
Amanda— shares the same 1980s dominance and the three-syllable rhythmic structure
Stephanie— another 1980s–90s top American girl name from the same generational cohort

Frequently Asked

What does the name Jessica mean?

Jessica likely comes from Hebrew Yiskah meaning God beholds or foresight, via Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice.

How do you pronounce Jessica?

It is said JES-ih-kuh /ˈdʒɛs.ɪ.kə/ — three syllables with stress on the first.

Did Shakespeare invent the name Jessica?

Shakespeare may have coined or popularized Jessica in The Merchant of Venice (c. 1596); the exact source is debated.

How popular was Jessica?

Jessica was the #1 girls' name in the United States for roughly twelve years from 1981 to 1992 — one of the longest runs at the top in U.S. naming history.