Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Nessa
GirlEnglish, Irish· “short for Vanessa or Agnes”
- Meaning
- short for Vanessa or Agnes
- Origin
- English, Irish
- Pronunciation
- NES-uh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #2,744
- US babies 2025
- 63
- Best rank
- #2,302 (2016)
- Peak year
- 2016
Meaning and origin of Nessa
Nessa is an English and Irish name that is usually said to mean “short for Vanessa or Agnes”.
Nessa is a short form of Vanessa or Agnes, and it is also an Irish name in its own right. In Irish legend Ness, or Neasa, was the mother of King Conchobar of Ulster, and the name carries that old mythological link. Vanessa was invented by Jonathan Swift in the eighteenth century. In Hebrew, nes means miracle, and some families connect Nessa with that. It is said NES-uh. Its brevity lets it travel easily between Irish, English and Hebrew-speaking families.
Popularity over time
Nessa first appears in US Social Security records in 1935. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #2,302 in 2016, the same year it reached its highest count of 83 babies. In 2025, 63 babies were named Nessa, and it ranked #2,744 nationally. That is 29% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #4,909 in 1980, #8,404 in 2000, #5,551 in 2010, and #2,744 in 2025. Of the 1,368 US girls named Nessa since records began, 33% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 340 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Breelyn, Sabella, Fallyn, Kinzie, and Annastasia.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Nessa ranked highest in New York, Texas, and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New York | #2327 | 5 |
| Texas | #2573 | 8 |
| California | #3011 | 6 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Nessa is usually pronounced NES-uh, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with N and ends in “-sa”.
Middle names for Nessa
A few middle names that flow with Nessa: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Nessa
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Lists that include Nessa
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nessa mean?
Nessa is an English and Irish name that is usually said to mean “short for Vanessa or Agnes”.
What is the origin of the name Nessa?
Nessa has English and Irish roots. Nessa is a short form of Vanessa or Agnes, and it is also an Irish name in its own right.
Is Nessa a popular name?
Not especially. Nessa ranked #2,744 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Nessa a boy or girl name?
Nessa is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Nessa?
Nessa is usually pronounced NES-uh. 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