The Baby Name Wizard

Reader Contributions

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

Comments and insights on the name Vanessa: | Edit

My name is Vanessa-Sarah, with a mn that starts with a V and a very German last name that starts with S. This gives me, I am happy to say, possibly the greatest initials ever :)
I go by Vanessa and I love it. Even as a kid I loved it--I'm usually the only Vanessa in my class/workplace/etc but people are familiar with the name and know how to pronounce it. They also usually know how to spell it. I HATE the nickname Nessa except when used occasionally by good friends in a joking fashion, but I am often called simply V, which I love. Sibs are Nicole and Ashley.

My name is Vanessa! I love my name i get compliments all the time. People call me Ness Nessa Nessi Vin Vinny Vanne Vanna Ane and V. But people often spell my name Vennesa. And with the sibling thing, i have Jenna Isabel Natalie Derek and Jason, and another sister on the way. They think they might call her haley. Hope this helps! :)

I am a Vanessa, too. I used to dislike it when I was young, but only because I am the oldest and after my parents had me they started naming all my siblings biblical names. When we were introduced it always go something like this: "This is Vanessa, Jacob, Sarah and Zechariah" "Oh, what nice strong biblical names, Vanessa huh? Where did you come up with that one?" But now that I am grown and it doesn't bother me that my name doesn't match or sound like my siblings. I love my name. It's feminine and just unique enough without being unusual. I have only met one other Vanessa in person, and that was in kindergarten.

Personal experiences with the name Vanessa: | Edit

People constantly want to spell the name with two N's and one S or with an E instead of an A.

I like my name. You don't hear it that often, and I think it sounds pretty.

Nicknames for Vanessa: | Edit

Ness, Nessa, Nessi, Sasa, Sa, Vanny, Van, Vanna, Vanne, V, Vinny, Vin, Essie, Essa

Meanings and history of the name Vanessa: | Edit

The name Vanessa was invented by Irish writer Jonathan Swift for Esther Vanhomrigh. The name was created by taking "Van" from Vanhomrigh's last name and adding "Essa", the pet form of Esther.

Greek- butterfly

Famous real-life people named Vanessa: | Edit

Vanessa Redgrave, English actress
Vanessa L. Williams, American singer and actress
Vanessa Downing, actress
Vanessa Carlton, singer
Vanessa Hudgens, American actress/singer
Vanessa Bell, Bloomsbury artist
Vanessa Bell Armstrong, American singer
Vanessa Bell Calloway, American actress
Vanessa Paradis, French singer and actress
Vanessa-Mae (born Vanessa-Mae Vanakorn Nicholson), British-Chinese violinist
Vanessa Beecroft, Italian contemporary artist
Vanessa Amorosi, Australian singer/songwriter
Vanessa Vadim, daughter of Jane Fonda

Vanessa in song, story & screen: | Edit

Vanessa Huxtable, middle child on 1980s television show "The Cosby Show"
Vanessa Kensington, love interest of Austin Powers in the film "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery", played by Elizabeth Hurley
Vanessa Abrams, character in the "Gossip Girl" books and TV series, played by Jessica Szohr
Vanessa Geraldine Carlysle, aka Copycat, character in Marvel comics