girls' name · peaked 2015

Jessa

20th-century coinage from Jessie + feminine suffix -a; compare Jenna from Jenny.

Every Jessa since 1918 — 6,467 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex — comparable across eras
0.10.20.30.418801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys
Rank 2025
#2,225
among girls
Babies in 2025
83
named Jessa
Peak year
2015
572 babies
All-time total
6,467
since 1918

The story of Jessa

Jessa is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #2,225 in 2025 with 83 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1918, 6,467 American babies have been named Jessa. Its peak came in 2015, when 572 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.

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

Jessa year by year

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

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 83 #2,225
2024 96 #2,035
2023 99 #1,991
2022 122 #1,713
2021 179 #1,286
2020 167 #1,325
2019 187 #1,248
2018 242 #1,059
2017 314 #872
2016 433 #676
2015 572 #545
2014 332 #835
2013 208 #1,157
2012 255 #989
2011 222 #1,113
2010 242 #1,033
2009 196 #1,255
2008 124 #1,780
2007 145 #1,566
2006 138 #1,569
2005 90 #2,079
2004 116 #1,672
2003 92 #1,977
2002 78 #2,152
2001 98 #1,810
2000 91 #1,875
1995 103 #1,516
1990 85 #1,724
1985 45 #2,264
1980 39 #2,454
1975 9 #6,152
1970
1965
1960
1955
1950
1945
1940
1935
1930
1925
1920
1915
1910
1905
1900
1895
1890
1885
1880

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Jessa mean?

20th-century coinage from Jessie + feminine suffix -a; compare Jenna from Jenny.

How popular is the name Jessa in 2025?

Jessa ranked #2,225 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 83 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Jessa?

6,467 babies have been named Jessa in the United States since 1918, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Jessa most popular?

Jessa peaked in 2015, when 572 newborns received the name.

Is Jessa a boy or girl name?

Jessa is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Jessa rising or falling?

Jessa is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Jessa

Compare Jessa with similar names →