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Vanassa

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How to Pronounce Vanassa

Pronounced vuh-NAS-uh /vəˈnæs.ə/Medium

Meaning: Vanassa is a respelling of Vanessa, a name invented by the writer Jonathan Swift from Van- and Essa, elements of his friend Esther Vanhomrigh's name. The single-consonant spelling marks it as a mid-century American variant.Low

In 30 seconds: Vanassa is a respelling of Vanessa, a name coined by Jonathan Swift. It appeared for United States girls in the 1950s and stayed rare (said vuh-NAS-uh).

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Origin LowEnglish, American

MeaningVanassa is a respelling of Vanessa, a name invented by the writer Jonathan Swift from Van- and Essa, elements of his friend Esther Vanhomrigh's name. The single-consonant spelling marks it as a mid-century American variant.

U.S. rank (1999)#12628 ↘ Falling

1999 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1955

Total births (all-time)≈ 369

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

Vanassa is a variant spelling of Vanessa, which Jonathan Swift coined in the early eighteenth century for Esther Vanhomrigh, blending Van- from her surname with Essa from Esther. As Vanessa grew popular in mid-century America, rarer spellings like Vanassa appeared; it shows up in the 1950s and peaked around 1955.

It was never common, given to only a couple dozen girls a year at its height, so a Vanassa from that time would be in her sixties today. It reads as a period respelling rather than a distinct name, with Vanessa as its standard form.

Did you know? Vanassa descends from Vanessa, one of the few names traceable to a single author, the satirist Jonathan Swift.

Overall data confidence 40%

References - Vanassa — Respelling of Vanessa (Swift coinage)

Variations

VanessaVanesaVenessa

Nicknames

VanNessaVanni

Famous Bearers

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If you like Vanassa…

Vanessa— the standard spelling of this name

Vanesa— a sister spelling of the same name

Clarissa— a like flowing -issa/-assa girl's name

Larissa— another three-beat -issa name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Vanassa mean?

It is a respelling of Vanessa, a name coined by the writer Jonathan Swift.

How do you pronounce Vanassa?

It's said vuh-NAS-uh /vəˈnæs.ə/, three syllables with the stress in the middle.

Is Vanassa a boy or girl name?

Vanassa is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Vanassa?

It has always been rare, given to only a couple dozen girls a year at its high point in the mid nineteen-fifties.