Jessica
Peaked at #1 nationally in 1985, based on real US Social Security Administration birth records.
Girls vs. boys, all-time
Since 1880, Jessica has been recorded >99% of the time for girls and <1% of the time for boys.
Meaning & origin
Jessica is widely credited to William Shakespeare, who used it for Shylock's daughter in The Merchant of Venice, likely adapting it from the biblical Hebrew name Iscah (or Yiskah), meaning "to behold" or "foresight." The name remained rare for centuries after the play before becoming enormously popular in the late 20th-century United States.
Notable people & culture
Actresses Jessica Alba, Jessica Chastain, and Jessica Lange have each earned major industry recognition, while singer Jessica Simpson brought the name into pop culture in the 2000s. It ranked as one of the most popular girls' names in the U.S. throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Common variants include Jess and Jessie.
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Jessica — Girls (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#1
in 1985
Current rank
#574
in 2024
Years tracked
145
1880–2024
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1880, Jessica reached its peak popularity for girls in 1985, ranking #1 nationally with 48,348 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #179 (2014) to #574 (2024) — a 69% drop.
As of 2024, Jessica ranks #574 nationally for girls, with 526 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #574 | 526 |
| 2023 | #550 | 550 |
| 2022 | #508 | 620 |
| 2021 | #477 | 656 |
| 2020 | #399 | 779 |
| 2019 | #331 | 969 |
| 2018 | #312 | 1,066 |
| 2017 | #246 | 1,291 |
Jessica — Boys (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#578
in 1985
Last ranked
#13123
in 2016
Years tracked
49
1963–2016
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1963, Jessica reached its peak popularity for boys in 1985, ranking #578 nationally with 230 babies given the name that year.
Jessica hasn't appeared among the national top ranks for boys since 2016, when it stood at #13123.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | #13,123 | 5 |
| 2011 | #8,382 | 9 |
| 2010 | #11,397 | 6 |
| 2009 | #7,972 | 10 |
| 2008 | #11,746 | 6 |
| 2007 | #6,426 | 13 |
| 2006 | #7,691 | 10 |
| 2005 | #4,548 | 19 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, National Data, 1880–2024.
Similar trajectory
Other names that peaked around the same era and rose or fell on a comparable curve.
Based on US data — girls' names only.
Common Questions
When was Jessica most popular?
Jessica was most popular in 1985, when it ranked #1 nationally for girls — the highest rank it has reached in this data.
Is Jessica becoming more or less popular?
For girls, it's currently falling; for boys, it's currently falling, based on the last decade of SSA data.
How many babies have been named Jessica?
At least 1,053,884 babies have been recorded with the name Jessica in the US since 1880, according to Social Security Administration birth records.
Looking for more name ideas like Jessica? Try the Baby Name Generator or compare it against other names on the Name Trends hub.