Vannessa: 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	375	38	–	#1,318
1960s	366	37	-2%	#1,444
1970s	353	35	-4%	#1,951
1980s	761	76	+116%	#1,191
1990s	785	79	+3%	#1,536
2000s	428	43	-45%	#2,506
2010s	142	14	-67%	#4,673
2020s (to 2025)	21	4	-75%	#11,025

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

375

–

#1,318

1960s

366

-2%

#1,444

1970s

353

-4%

#1,951

1980s

761

+116%

#1,191

1990s

785

+3%

#1,536

2000s

428

-45%

#2,506

2010s

142

-67%

#4,673

2020s (to 2025)

-75%

#11,025

The story of Vannessa

Vannessa 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 1951, 3,231 American babies have been named Vannessa. Its peak came in 1987, when 123 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 Vannessa stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Vannessa?

The median living Vannessa is about 37 years old; half are between 28 and 51. An estimated 3,100 people named Vannessa 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.

Vannessa 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	6	#15,173
2021	6	#15,118
2020	9	#11,025
2019	8	#12,368
2018	5	#17,959
2017	9	#11,558
2016	11	#10,069
2015	11	#10,102
2014	13	#8,937
2013	14	#8,546
2012	17	#7,436
2011	31	#4,673
2010	23	#5,966
2009	38	#4,100
2008	42	#3,856
2007	42	#3,843
2006	41	#3,790
2005	40	#3,722
2004	43	#3,487
2003	42	#3,467
2002	41	#3,391
2001	38	#3,546
2000	61	#2,506
1995	69	#2,004
1990	98	#1,567
1985	70	#1,679
1980	44	#2,277
1975	31	#2,563
1970	27	#2,701
1965	23	#2,604
1960	59	#1,444
1955	59	#1,318
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Vannessa?

The median living Vannessa is about 37 years old. Half of all living Vannessas are between 28 and 51 years old.

How many people named Vannessa are alive today?

An estimated 3,100 people named Vannessa are alive in the United States, based on 3,231 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Vannessa mean?

Spelling variant of Vanessa.

How popular is the name Vannessa in 2025?

Vannessa 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 Vannessa?

3,231 babies have been named Vannessa in the United States since 1951, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Vannessa most popular?

Vannessa peaked in 1987, when 123 newborns received the name.

Is Vannessa a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Vannessa rising or falling?

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

Vannessa

Vannessa popularity over time

The story of Vannessa

How old are people named Vannessa?

Vannessa year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Vannessa