Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Jess
BoyEnglish, Hebrew· “short for Jesse or Jessica”
- Meaning
- short for Jesse or Jessica
- Origin
- English, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- JES
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #5,299
- US babies 2025
- 18
- Best rank
- #109 (1887)
- Peak year
- 1915
Meaning and origin of Jess
Jess is an English and Hebrew name that means “short for Jesse or Jessica”.
Jess is a short form of Jesse or Jessica, used for both boys and girls. Jesse is a Hebrew name, usually explained as gift, borne in the Bible by the father of King David. Jessica was first used by Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice, probably from the biblical Iscah. Jess is also a Scottish and English surname. It is said JES, a single syllable. As a boys' name it has a Western, cowboy feel in the US, while in Britain it is more often a girls' name. It is short and simple.
Popularity over time
Jess has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 117 different years. Its best national rank was #109 in 1887, and the most babies received it in 1915, when 577 were named Jess. In 2025, 18 babies were named Jess, and it ranked #5,299 nationally. That is 49% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #317 in 1920, #482 in 1950, #496 in 1980, #1,559 in 2000, #3,412 in 2010, and #5,299 in 2025. Of the 25,063 US boys named Jess since records began, 12% were born in the 1910s, its biggest decade. The 1970s come next, with 2,781 babies. Since 2010, 434 more have been named Jess.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Hyman, Anton, Cyril, Booker, and Isadore.
Gender, sound and spelling
About 86% of US babies named Jess over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Jess is usually pronounced JES, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with J and ends in “-ss”.
Middle names for Jess
A few middle names that flow with Jess: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Jess
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Lists that include Jess
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Jess mean?
Jess is an English and Hebrew name that means “short for Jesse or Jessica”.
What is the origin of the name Jess?
Jess has English and Hebrew roots. Jess is a short form of Jesse or Jessica, used for both boys and girls.
Is Jess a popular name?
Not especially. Jess ranked #5,299 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Jess a boy or girl name?
Jess is mainly a boy's name. About 86% of US babies named Jess over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Jess?
Jess is usually pronounced JES. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings