The Baby Name Wizard

Reader Contributions

Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Jessica!

Comments and insights on the name Jessica: | Edit

This is a beautiful, bright, sparkling name.

Personal experiences with the name Jessica: | Edit

Though pretty, this name is far too common. Because of this, I prefer people to call me by my middle name to avoid confusion.

My middle name is Jessica and I would much rather it was my first name.

I have never been the only Jessica anywhere--at work, school, church, there is always at least 1 (and often several) more Jessica(s). I think theoretically it's a pretty name, but in practice I find it annoyingly common.

I love my name and wouldn't change it for anything. Even my husband's exwife is named Jessica.. He just can't get away from us! But I agree it's way too popular and I've always known another Jessica some where.. I get confused for Jennifer's sometimes too, that really annoys me!

Nicknames for Jessica: | Edit

Jay, Guess Jess, Jeka, Jessie, Jess, Jessi, Jessy, Essika, Yesiska, Jessita, Yessi, Yessika, Shessika, Bess, Bessica

Meanings and history of the name Jessica: | Edit

God's Grace (Hebrew).

From behindthename.com:

This name was first used in this form by Shakespeare in his play 'The Merchant of Venice' (1596), where it belongs to the daughter of Shylock. Shakespeare probably based it on the biblical name ISCAH which would have been spelled Jesca in his time. Popular in the late 1800s, it returned to popularity in the late 1960s.

Famous real-life people named Jessica: | Edit

Jessica Abel (born 1969), American comic book writer and artist
Jessica Alba (born 1981), American television and film actress
Jessica Biel (born 1982), American actress and former model
Jessica DiCicco (born 1980), American actress
Jessica Fodera (born 1975), American rock singer-songwriter, member of Scarling. and Jack Off Jill
Jessica Gomes (born 1985), Australian model
Jessica Harp (born 1982), American country singer-songwriter and guitarist
Jessica Hynes (born 1972), British actress, writer and comedienne
Jessica Jung (born 1989), US-born Korean Pop singer, member of Girls Generation
Jessica Lange (born 1949), American actress
Jessica Lowndes (born 1988), American actress and singer-songwriter
Jessica Mauboy (born 1989), Australian singer
Jessica Mitford, writer/activist
Jessica Origliasso (born 1984), Australian musician, member of The Veronicas
Jessica Lee Rose (born 1987), American actress
Jessica Simpson (born 1980), American pop singer and actress
Jessica Stroup (born 1986), American actress and model
Jessica Sutta (born 1982), American dancer and singer, member of Pussycat Dolls
Jessica Szohr (born 1985), American actress
Jessica Tandy (1909-1994), British-American actress
Jessica Walter (born 1941), American actress

Jessica in song, story & screen: | Edit

"Jessica", song by the Allman Brothers
"Jessica", song by Dir en Grey
"Asking Jessica to Be Official", song by hellogoodbye
"We Made You" Song By Eminem
Jessica Lovejoy, character on "The Simpsons"
Mambo No. 5 - Jessica said in lyrics
Jeshika of Familiar of Zero
Jessica of the 1971 cult horror film Let's Scare Jessica to Death, portrayed by actress Zohra Lampert
Jessica 6, was the leading lady in the movie Logan's Run
Jessica Albert, from the Dragon Quest VIII video game
Lady Jessica, from Frank Herbert's Dune universe
Jessica Bennett, from the soap opera Passions
Jessica Buchanan, from the soap opera One Life to Live
Jessica Drew, the original Spider Woman
Jessica Fletcher, a novelist and the protagonist of Murder, She Wrote
Jessica Jones, from the Marvel Comics series Alias
Jessica Rabbit, from Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Jessica "Jessi" Ramsey from The Baby-Sitters Club book series
Jessica Sanders of the television series Heroes
Jessica "Jessie" Spano from the television series Saved by the Bell
Jessica Wakefield from the Sweet Valley book series