Vanessa - Name Meaning and Origin

The girl's name Vanessa \v(a)-nessa, van(es)-sa\ is pronounced va-NESS-ah. It is of English origin. An early-18th-century literary name created by Jonathan Swift for "Gulliver's Travels". Also the name of a genus of butterflies that includes the Red Admiral and the Painted Lady. See also Venetia. Actresses Vanessa Redgrave, Vanessa Williams; celebrity Vanna White.

Vanessa has 21 variant forms: Nessa, Nessie, Nessy, Van, Vanesa, Vanesse, Vanetta, Vania, Vanija, Vanna, Vannessa, Vannetta, Vannie, Vanya, Venesa, Venessa, Venetta, Vinessa, Vonessa, Vonesse and Vonnessa.

For more information, see also related names Janessa, Jenessa and Nissa.

Baby names that sound like Vanessa are Vanecia, Venezia, Venecia and Venusa.

Vanessa is a very popular female first name and a very rare surname (source: 1990 U.S. Census). Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the girl's name Vanessa. Click here to compare Vanessa with related baby names.