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Home › Baby Names Directory › Yesenia

Yesenia

♀ Girl

Pronounced yeh-SEH-nee-uh /jɛˈsɛ.ni.ə/Medium

Meaning: From the botanical name Jessenia, a South American palm; the name spread after the 1970 Mexican telenovela and 1971 film 'Yesenia'.Medium

In 30 seconds: Yesenia comes from Jessenia, a South American palm, and spread widely after the 1970 Mexican telenovela and 1971 film of the same name. Its roots are botanical, not ancient.
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Origin MediumSpanish
MeaningFrom the botanical name Jessenia, a South American palm; the name spread after the 1970 Mexican telenovela and 1971 film 'Yesenia'.
U.S. rank (2025)#1901 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births103 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1987
Total births (all-time)≈ 39,462

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 198719662025

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

Yesenia traces back to the botanical name Jessenia, a palm native to South America, rather than to any old personal name. What carried it into homes across the Spanish-speaking world was popular culture: the 1970 Mexican telenovela 'Yesenia' and the film that followed in 1971 made it a household choice. That media moment, not centuries of tradition, explains its sudden familiarity.

The name shifts easily between J and Y spellings, as its variations Jesenia, Jessenia and Yessenia show. The flowing four syllables give it a lyrical, distinctly Latin American sound.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Yesenia is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Yesenia — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

JeseniaJesseniaYesseniaYeseniya

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Yesenia…

Nathalia— shares Yesenia's Spanish roots
Valencia— a similarly popular pick
Noelia— echoes that soft -ia sound
Azalia— another Spanish name
Adelia— echoes that soft -ia sound

Explore names like Yesenia

By themespanishnature

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Yesenia mean?

Yesenia is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with Spanish tradition.

How do you pronounce Yesenia?

It's commonly said yeh-SEH-nee-uh /jɛˈsɛ.ni.ə/.

Is Yesenia a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Yesenia is used as a girl name.

How popular is Yesenia?

In 2024, Yesenia ranked #1572 in the U.S. for girls, with 135 births recorded.

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