Jessica
Jessica: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈd͡ʒɛsɪkə/
Meaning and origin of Jessica
- A female given name from Hebrew.
Etymology
First used by William Shakespeare in Merchant of Venice in the early 17th century, probably from Hebrew יִסְכָּה (yiská, “Iscah in Genesis 11:29, Jescha in the Wycliffe version”), a proper name meaning "he will see/behold/look for", the 3ms imperfect form of a verb ultimately from the root ס־כ־ה (s-k-h), itself an alternative form of the root שׂ־כ־ה (ś-k-h), both of which mean "to see, behold, look for". * By folk etymology seen as an elaborate form of Jessie, from Jane.
How popular is Jessica?
Since 1880, 1,050,729 girls and 3,578 boys in the U.S. have been named Jessica (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1 in 1985. Its highest rank for boys was #578 in 1985. In 2025 it ranked #665 for girls, with 424 babies given the name.
Names similar to Jessica
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Hebrew girl names
Sibling name ideas for Jessica
Sister and brother names that share Jessica's Hebrew roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Jessica FAQ
What does the name Jessica mean?
A female given name from Hebrew. First used by William Shakespeare in Merchant of Venice in the early 17th century, probably from Hebrew יִסְכָּה (yiská, “Iscah in Genesis 11:29, Jescha in the Wycliffe version”), a proper name meaning "he will see/behold/look for", the 3ms imperfect form of a verb ultimately from the root ס־כ־ה (s-k-h), itself an alternative form of the root שׂ־כ־ה (ś-k-h), both of which mean "to see, behold, look for". * By folk etymology seen as an elaborate form of Jessie, from Jane.
What is the origin of the name Jessica?
Jessica is listed as a name of Hebrew origin.
How popular is the name Jessica?
Since 1880, 1,050,729 girls and 3,578 boys in the U.S. have been named Jessica (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1 in 1985. Its highest rank for boys was #578 in 1985. In 2025 it ranked #665 for girls, with 424 babies given the name.
Is Jessica a boy or girl name?
Jessica is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 1,050,729 girls and 3,578 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.