Jennessa: 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	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	14	1	–	#6,937
1980s	80	8	+471%	#5,331
1990s	145	15	+81%	#3,864
2000s	241	24	+66%	#4,203
2010s	138	14	-43%	#5,444
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

1970s

–

#6,937

1980s

+471%

#5,331

1990s

145

+81%

#3,864

2000s

241

+66%

#4,203

2010s

138

-43%

#5,444

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Jennessa

Jennessa 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 1976, 618 American babies have been named Jennessa. Its peak came in 2006, when 35 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2000s.

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 Jennessa stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Jennessa?

The median living Jennessa is about 22 years old; half are between 16 and 32. An estimated 600 people named Jennessa 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.

Jennessa 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	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	5	#16,727
2017	10	#10,286
2016	19	#6,532
2015	14	#8,191
2014	16	#7,462
2013	8	#12,506
2012	18	#6,983
2011	25	#5,444
2010	23	#5,867
2009	32	#4,622
2008	22	#6,239
2007	29	#5,013
2006	35	#4,203
2005	23	#5,512
2004	24	#5,280
2003	23	#5,310
2002	17	#6,525
2001	20	#5,683
2000	16	#6,625
1995	7	#11,015
1990	17	#5,382
1985	11	#6,205
1980	8	#7,685
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Jennessa?

The median living Jennessa is about 22 years old. Half of all living Jennessas are between 16 and 32 years old.

How many people named Jennessa are alive today?

An estimated 600 people named Jennessa are alive in the United States, based on 618 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Jennessa mean?

Spelling variant of Jenessa.

How popular is the name Jennessa in 2025?

Jennessa 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 Jennessa?

618 babies have been named Jennessa in the United States since 1976, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Jennessa most popular?

Jennessa peaked in 2006, when 35 newborns received the name.

Is Jennessa a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Jennessa rising or falling?

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

Jennessa

Jennessa popularity over time

The story of Jennessa

How old are people named Jennessa?

Jennessa year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Jennessa