Contessa: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	22	2	–	#4,270
1960s	84	8	+282%	#3,586
1970s	505	51	+501%	#1,146
1980s	632	63	+25%	#1,067
1990s	300	30	-53%	#2,532
2000s	290	29	-3%	#3,508
2010s	177	18	-39%	#4,416
2020s (to 2025)	30	5	-72%	#8,154

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

#4,270

1960s

+282%

#3,586

1970s

505

+501%

#1,146

1980s

632

+25%

#1,067

1990s

300

-53%

#2,532

2000s

290

-3%

#3,508

2010s

177

-39%

#4,416

2020s (to 2025)

-72%

#8,154

The story of Contessa

Contessa is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1957, 2,040 American babies have been named Contessa. Its peak came in 1983, when 130 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1980s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Contessa stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Contessa?

The median living Contessa is about 40 years old; half are between 26 and 48. An estimated 2,000 people named Contessa are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Contessa year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	13	#8,154
2022	–	–
2021	11	#9,101
2020	6	#13,819
2019	5	#16,079
2018	6	#14,191
2017	7	#13,017
2016	17	#6,976
2015	17	#7,047
2014	20	#6,250
2013	26	#5,172
2012	25	#5,434
2011	21	#6,196
2010	33	#4,416
2009	26	#5,426
2008	37	#4,201
2007	38	#4,066
2006	36	#4,086
2005	30	#4,509
2004	42	#3,508
2003	24	#5,118
2002	18	#6,199
2001	20	#5,626
2000	19	#5,760
1995	31	#3,510
1990	47	#2,532
1985	72	#1,635
1980	38	#2,496
1975	66	#1,532
1970	26	#2,721
1965	9	#4,556
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Contessa, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Contessa?

The median living Contessa is about 40 years old. Half of all living Contessas are between 26 and 48 years old.

How many people named Contessa are alive today?

An estimated 2,000 people named Contessa are alive in the United States, based on 2,040 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Contessa in 2025?

Contessa did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Contessa?

2,040 babies have been named Contessa in the United States since 1957, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Contessa most popular?

Contessa peaked in 1983, when 130 newborns received the name.

Is Contessa a boy or girl name?

Contessa is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Contessa rising or falling?

Contessa is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Contessa

Contessa popularity over time

The story of Contessa

How old are people named Contessa?

Contessa year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Contessa