Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Jessica
GirlEnglish, Hebrew· “coined by Shakespeare; possibly from Iscah”
- Meaning
- coined by Shakespeare; possibly from Iscah
- Origin
- English, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- JEH-sih-kuh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #665
- US babies 2025
- 424
- Best rank
- #1 (1985)
- Peak year
- 1987
Meaning and origin of Jessica
Jessica is an English and Hebrew name that is usually said to mean “coined by Shakespeare; possibly from Iscah”.
Jessica first appears in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, where she is the daughter of Shylock who elopes with Lorenzo. Shakespeare probably based it on Iscah, a minor figure in Genesis whose name was spelled Jesca in some English Bibles of his time; the meaning of Iscah is uncertain. The name remained rare for centuries before becoming extremely popular in the later twentieth century. Jessica sounds bright and friendly, with a classic rhythm, and it offers the easy nicknames Jess and Jessie. It is one of relatively few common names whose literary birth can be traced to a single author.
Popularity over time
Jessica 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 121 different years. Its best national rank was #1 in 1985, and the most babies received it in 1987, when 55,992 were named Jessica. In 2025, 424 babies were named Jessica, and it ranked #665 nationally. That is 73% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #1,161 in 1920, #400 in 1950, #3 in 1980, #8 in 2000, #92 in 2010, and #665 in 2025. Of the 1,050,729 US girls named Jessica since records began, 45% were born in the 1980s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 303,136 babies. Since 2010, 21,784 more have been named Jessica.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Ashley and Amanda.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Jessica ranked highest in Utah, Arizona, and Kentucky.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | #423 | 10 |
| Arizona | #430 | 16 |
| Kentucky | #464 | 9 |
| California | #484 | 70 |
| Washington | #491 | 14 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Jessica is usually pronounced JEH-sih-kuh, with three syllables. It has seven letters, starts with J and ends in “-ca”.
Middle names for Jessica
A few middle names that flow with Jessica: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Jessica
Similar names
Rebecca Girl
ruh-BEH-kuh
“possibly to bind” · Hebrew
#350
Eliza Girl
ih-LY-zuh
“short for Elizabeth, 'my God is an oath'” · English
#115
Bianca Girl
bee-AHNG-kuh
“white” · Italian
#500
Ariel Unisex
EH-ree-uhl
“lion of God” · Hebrew
#356
Vanessa Girl
vuh-NEH-suh
“invented by Jonathan Swift” · English
#377
Miranda Girl
mur-AN-duh
“worthy of admiration” · Latin
#656
Alison Girl
A-lih-suhn
“noble; diminutive of Alice” · French
#476
Francesca Girl
fran-CHEHS-kuh
“French, from France” · Italian
#307
Lilian Girl
LIH-lee-uhn
“possibly from Elizabeth; linked to lily” · English
#560
Emily Girl
EH-muh-lee
“rival, striving” · Latin
#34
Madelyn Girl
MAD-uh-lihn
“of Magdala” · English
#71
Annabelle Girl
A-nuh-behl
“lovable; or Anna plus belle” · English
#343
Lists that include Jessica
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Jessica mean?
Jessica is an English and Hebrew name that is usually said to mean “coined by Shakespeare; possibly from Iscah”.
What is the origin of the name Jessica?
Jessica has English and Hebrew roots. Jessica first appears in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, where she is the daughter of Shylock who elopes with Lorenzo.
Is Jessica a popular name?
Yes. Jessica ranked #665 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Jessica a boy or girl name?
Jessica is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Jessica?
Jessica is usually pronounced JEH-sih-kuh. 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