Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1988

Vinessa

Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Vinessa
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1988
15 babies
All-time total
372
#14,131 all-time among girls
First recorded
1956
in Social Security records

Vinessa popularity over time

372 babies have been named Vinessa since 1956, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
00.010.010.0118801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1973Girls

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 8 1 – #4,822
1960s 24 2 +200% #5,832
1970s 61 6 +154% #5,184
1980s 99 10 +62% #5,593
1990s 84 8 -15% #6,257
2000s 53 5 -37% #10,654
2010s 38 4 -28% #13,081
2020s (to 2025) 5 1 -78% #17,596

The story of Vinessa

Vinessa 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 1956, 372 American babies have been named Vinessa. Its peak came in 1988, when 15 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 Vinessa stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Vinessa?

The median living Vinessa is about 36 years old; half are between 25 and 45. An estimated 400 people named Vinessa are alive in the United States today.

median 36 020406080100

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

Vinessa 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 5 #17,596
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 5 #18,293
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 5 #19,060
2013 8 #13,081
2012 7 #14,889
2011 8 #13,287
2010 5 #19,681
2009 – –
2008 8 #13,756
2007 9 #12,623
2006 5 #19,915
2005 – –
2004 10 #10,654
2003 5 #18,312
2002 9 #11,069
2001 – –
2000 7 #13,100
1995 10 #8,742
1990 7 #11,380
1985 8 #8,294
1980 11 #6,305
1975 5 #10,579
1970 – –
1965 6 #6,516
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Vinessa

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Vinessa Shaw Vinessa Shaw American actress (born 1976) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Vinessa?

The median living Vinessa is about 36 years old. Half of all living Vinessas are between 25 and 45 years old.

How many people named Vinessa are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Vinessa are alive in the United States, based on 372 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Vinessa in 2025?

Vinessa 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 Vinessa?

372 babies have been named Vinessa in the United States since 1956, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Vinessa most popular?

Vinessa peaked in 1988, when 15 newborns received the name.

Is Vinessa a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Vinessa rising or falling?

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

Who are famous people named Vinessa?

Well-known people named Vinessa include Vinessa Shaw (actor).

Names like Vinessa

Names that sound and feel close to Vinessa: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Vinessa with similar names → More names starting with V →