Dessa

♀ Girl

Pronounced DEH-sah /ˈdɛ.sə/High

Meaning: A short form of Odessa — a Black Sea city named (in a feminine form) after the Greek colony Odessos; also used as a modern coinage; routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: A short form of Odessa: Dessa. Crisp, modern, and warm.

💕 Browse more names

Origin LowGreek

MeaningA short form of Odessa — a Black Sea city named (in a feminine form) after the Greek colony Odessos; also used as a modern coinage; routes layered

U.S. rank (2025)#6910 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births16 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2001

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,817

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Dessa is a short form of Odessa — a Black Sea city named (in a feminine form) after the Greek colony Odessos; it is also used as a modern coinage (routes layered, which we note). A crisp, modern name (said 'DEH-sah').

In the U.S. it appears as a short form. Rare, a-short-form-of-Odessa, and modern.

Did you know? Odessa is a Black Sea city named (in a feminine form) after the Greek colony Odessos — Dessa is a crisp short form, also used as a modern coinage (the routes are layered, which we note; said 'DEH-sah').

Overall data confidence 40%

References — Odessa — place-name; routes layered

Variations

DesaOdessaDessah

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Dessa…

Odessa— the name it shortens

Tessa— a sound-neighbor -essa girls' name

Nessa— a fellow -essa girls' name

Vanessa— another -essa girls' name

Explore names like Dessa

By themeuncertain greek place-name

By meaningSea / Water

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Dessa mean?

Dessa is a short form of Odessa (a Black Sea city, named after the Greek Odessos); also a modern coinage, so the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Dessa?

It's said DEH-sah /ˈdɛ.sə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Dessa a boy or girl name?

Dessa is a girl's name.

How popular is Dessa?

Dessa is a rare name in the U.S.